Changed Future
Summary: Sequel to Rewriting History. A threat against the Potter family lets them inside the Prince Manor, where Severus Mentis lives… along with a guest in the shadows. Slash.
Pairing/s: AbraxasAstus and some couples from the books.
Warnings: Slash, some violence.
Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
-o-
The last chapter of this story. It's quite short compared to Rewriting History, but I hope you still enjoyed it as much. Last chapter, but there will be an epilogue so this isn't quite the end.
There will be a new romance development here, and I think most of you know between whom. Those who doesn't, I hope you will like the two together anyway.
Read and enjoy!
-o-
Chapter Seven
Previously:
The Fiendfyre hit the ground, and it shook under their feet. Immediately it spread out and surrounded the rebels, Astus, Abraxas and Severus.
-o-
"Father! Severus!" Lucius screamed.
"Astus! Shit!" Bellatrix didn't seem to know what to do as the fire twisted and turned.
Rebels were screaming along with the flames, the group could see some running around, burning and soon falling, and for a moment they all feared that the three men had been lost to those horrible, twisting flames. Lucius wasn't even pale anymore; he was deathly white as his wide eyes stared straight into the fire, Narcissa's hand around his arm as if to prevent him to rush into the conjured fire.
Bellatrix raised her wand, lowered it again and said:
"Are they…? Do you think they…?"
None of her confidence remained. It had inflated the moment she lost sight of her friend and the two men she considered parents.
The magical signals were so mixed up they couldn't even try to use their own magic to pinpoint where Astus, Abraxas and Severus where, if they were alive.
Some rebels escaped the flames, even as the Fiendfyre began to twist and move after them. Then the flames abruptly lost power, whirled around and soon disappeared into thin air. Rebels moved, some burned, others relatively unharmed.
And then Severus was there, just fine, wand in his hand and shouting:
"Sectumsempra!"
It hit a rebel over the chest and blood splattered onto the ground. Astus was there, a whirl of blackness and then red eyes and a wave of magic rippling through the air.
Abraxas sprinted away from the group of rebels, back to the others who had began to attack again, and he was grinning. Every spell that sped his way was deflected by Bellatrix and Lucius, and Lucius grabbed onto Abraxas, pulling him back towards himself.
"Lucius, I'm fine," Abraxas said. "Severus!"
The potions master retreated, protected by Astus, and soon they squared off against the rebels as a whole. Dark blood dripped from Astus's mouth, and his skin was being tortured by the sun, coming off and revealing the flesh and muscles underneath. Abraxas moved to his side and pulled at the robes, giving Astus a slight relief.
"Who has control of the curse?" the elder Malfoy asked.
"I don't know," Severus replied. "They mentioned a vampire expert, could be him."
"They're probably going to keep him hidden for as long as possible, as a triumph card now when that Lestrange was killed."
"They still got the younger brother," Lucius said. "And father, please do not throw another Fiendfyre ever again if you intend to land amongst the flames afterwards."
"Oh please, I was the one who was having a heart attack!" Abraxas replied. "Fiendfyre isn't my favourite spell."
Astus shifted and pulled the robe away, exposing his burnt skin to the sun. Smoke rose from him and he gritted his teeth. He then pulled his hand up, the fingers looking more like claws and swung it in a wide arc.
They could all see the magic move, throwing people backwards and even cutting through their skin.
"Stop it, Astus! Casting raw magic around like that will do you no good!"
"I don't care," Astus managed to get out. "They… I want them gone now…"
"More are incoming!" Sirius shouted.
Abraxas readied his wand.
"Bloody hell, maybe I should do another Fiendfyre…"
-o-
The rebels around the manor had surrounded their posts to aid their comrades, and in the chaos, Gina slipped away. The house-elf limped as fast as she could to the edge of the wards, past them and vanished with a pop.
She appeared on Albus Dumbledore's desk. Severus's house-elves never had much trouble Apparating into Hogwarts Albus had discovered, and Gina had been there several times with a message to or from Severus.
But never before had she appeared before several Order members, covered in blood and collapsing upon arrival.
Poppy was at the desk within moments and Gina opened her eyes even as her small body began to shake.
"She's been hit with Crucio, several times," Poppy hissed. "Oh my poor dear…"
"Rebels," Gina said. "Master Severus and the others are trapped, Gina was captured, you must go now! Master Severus waits!"
"Call for as many as you can," Albus shouted at the others, "and go to the Prince manor! Hurry!"
He himself stayed behind for a bit, contacting the Ministry for the possibility of capturing dark rebels, and the fact one of the star Aurors, James Potter, were being threatened with death, and that had them all going.
Poppy had moved Gina over to a couch and was healing the house-elf. Albus moved over to them both and said:
"Poppy, they will most likely need you after this. I'll contact you as soon as everything's safe. Take care of our brave little Gina now."
"I am," the healer said. "And then I'll get my supplies ready."
Albus nodded shortly and moved out. He had already tried to fire-call Severus but the Floo wouldn't connect so they had no other choice but to Apparate there and hope the wards were down so they didn't have to watch, helplessly, as their friends fought.
-o-
The spell was keeping Astus from fighting. Several times he simply collapsed, forcing someone to protect him as well as getting him up again, and they could all see the strain on the vampire. Astus's skin, what was left of it, had lost all colour and was now just white, dotted with dried or half-dried blood.
Severus and Abraxas stayed near him. He tried to keep himself from falling to ease their troubles but it wasn't easy to stop his knees from buckling when the curse had such a tight grip over his body.
That vampire expert was nowhere to be seen, and Astus wondered briefly if he had been scared off seeing Astus in this condition. He admitted himself it wasn't his most elegant fight, but fights weren't supposed to be elegant and if he was honest, he'd rather skip the whole fighting bit. He had fought enough in his life.
Falling once more, he grit his teeth and clawed his way up, eyes going wild as they searched for someone responsible for the curse over his body. Smoke rose up around him where his skin was left exposed against the sun, and he hissed at the pain. It hadn't eased down at all, and he could barely think.
Severus picked him up, shot a series of spells and moved backwards with Astus trying to keep up. Abraxas whirled around, rebels falling around him.
"They're like cockroaches," Astus managed to get out. "Kill one and fucking three more shows up."
"Dad, really, don't talk, you sound like you swallowed a gravel drink with a few razor blades."
"I would have preferred that over this actually…"
"Seriously, dad, stop talking!"
Astus clung to Severus before shooting out magic, killing a rebel behind Severus's back.
"For God's sake, dad, don't use raw magic!"
He couldn't figure the spells out anymore. Maybe if he focused, but the pain was keeping him focused on… well, the pain itself. Astus knew a wide range of spells but it didn't help now when it felt like someone was ripping off his skin. He tried to tell as much but even his mouth refused to cooperate normally.
Another rebel came too close and Astus attacked him physically, throwing him down on the ground and with a single move, slit the man's throat. The warm blood didn't make him want to drink. It only made him feel disgusted, and reminded him of the early days as a vampire when he cowered in his rooms at Malfoy Manor and refused food and company for days. When the thirst clawed at him and he hated himself for it.
Getting away from those memories Astus staggered back up, blood dripping from his fingers. His robes were stained with enemy blood and he could imagine what a nightmare he must look like. The rebels were backing away when they saw him looking their way, and Astus took advantage of that. He normally didn't go this far in making people truly fear vampires, but he wanted out of the sun. He wanted the curse gone, and more than that, he wanted the bloody rebels dead already.
So he opened his mouth and howled. He had been repeatedly informed by Albus and Abraxas in the past he had been scary enough as a human when angry, and now they would do the wise thing and run for the hills.
The rebels didn't know that though. They knew enough to flinch and fear him, letting it trickle out in the air. Astus sneered. One thing he had to say about Voldemort; the man wouldn't let people like them out on the battlefield. No, Voldemort's people wouldn't fear the howling of one single pissed-off vampire.
These rebels were idiots, foolish children clinging onto a dying dream. Astus had killed that dream, and there was no time for these men and women now.
Severus was by his side again, and Astus thought he must look like a freak-show to his son. There was no fear in those dark eyes though, only worry. Astus roughly cleaned off his hands against his robes and said:
"Will… Albus come?"
"He must," Severus said. "Believe that, dad, and please, stop using raw magic. It will only hurt you in the end."
"I want it over," Astus growled and hurled a badly made spell against a rebel, not even bothering to listen to the woman's last scream. "Focus on the fight, Severus, I'll survive. Don't I always?"
Severus didn't move away, but he wasn't crowding Astus either. The group was still outnumbered by the rebels, and the rebels were beginning to push them back once it became clear that Abraxas had no intention of releasing another Fiendfyre upon them. However, he moved his wand in strange motions, and there were no spells coming out of his mouth then; it was long strings of words and rebels who were in the way of his magic either stopped moving or vanished completely. He was using complex warding techniques, not to protect houses but to lock people away.
Finally it all came crashing down, and a spell hit Severus right in the chest. Astus didn't know what spell it was, only it made blood fly and his son collapse, and now he didn't see Severus Mentis collapse but Severus Snape, bitten to death by Nagini. Astus trembled all over as he heard his old professor's voice echo out:
"Look at me…"
Severus Snape had wanted to die looking at Lily Evans's eyes just one last time. Now Astus wasn't sure what his Severus Mentis would like to look at in the last moment of his life, but he was pretty sure the Evans girl spelled her name with P this time around.
Not that Astus would let that moment happen this soon, and with so much blood involved. He was on the ground, pressing his hands against the wound on Severus's chest, and desperately called up all the lessons Poppy had given him once upon a time on healing spells.
Severus had been gasping for breath but it began now to ease as the man looked up at him. Abraxas and Lucius were shielding them.
"Father," Severus managed.
"Don't speak," he growled.
The skin of his hands sizzled as they were exposed to the sunlight but his face was temporarily free from the agony, with his hair falling down and shielding the burnt skin.
Lily had broken free and sprinted over to them, going down and her wand glowing. Astus hadn't closed the wound yet but the bleeding was slowing down.
"Keep that up, Astus," Lily gasped and pressed her wand down. "Severus, oh my god, are you alright?"
"Bad day to get up from the bed," Severus grit out. "Tomorrow I'm sleeping in."
"I think we all will," Lily said, tears running down her cheeks. "Stay still, Severus, please stay still. Astus ease up on the magic… yeah, that's it."
Astus was barely listening. Half of him wanted to take Severus and run to safety, the other half wanted to rip someone apart. It would soon become a reality, as soon as Severus was sure to survive the wound.
"Dad… don't do anything stupid… please."
"Oh, me, anything stupid?" Astus grinned down at him. "Since when… do I do anything stupid?"
"All the time. Like running off to kill Voldemort on your own… that was a stupid move. Made me believe you were dead…"
"Please, don't speak," Astus said, feeling the sun burning down on him. "Just rest."
"Here?" Severus managed a laugh, looking down at Lily's magic working around Astus's. "You got to be kidding me."
"Severus, Astus!" Lily said. "This is the best I can do. Where the bloody hell is that bloody Order?!"
Astus was up and moving the moment he was certain Severus had stopped bleeding, and there was no way to stop him. Abraxas and Lucius barely had time to see him pass by, and he was past them when Severus shouted for him.
He tore at the rebels to reach the man who had attacked his son. His brain was frying in his head, the spell was not just tearing at him physically, he was breaking down mentally down too. He couldn't throw the curse off himself, but still felt like clawing until he reached bone, just to feel that welcomed relief he had felt earlier lying in bed with Abraxas.
Finding the man responsible for his son's serious condition, Astus didn't as much as grab onto him as ripping his arm almost clearly off. Then they were both on the ground and he screamed:
"I didn't bloody travel back in time to see everything die again!"
He knew that his voice carried across the grounds but he didn't care. He was so pissed off at the fact he had been seconds from losing Severus that all the worry building up in his body was burning like wild flames throughout his veins.
It was then the Order arrived, along with Ministry Aurors. Abraxas pulled at Astus, dragged him away from the bloodied body of the rebel and retreated back towards the others. Astus fought him wildly until the blond stopped, grabbed his head and said:
"Astus, calm down or they will be trying to attack you! Those fools at the Ministry don't bloody know anything and the way you look they wouldn't hesitate trying to put you down."
Astus took a breath, then another one and groaned as more sun fell on his face. Abraxas looked up and screamed:
"Find that bloody fucking vampire expert, you twats, or I'll fucking kill you myself!"
Hearing Abraxas scream, and using such crude language, made Astus flinch and grit his teeth. His injuries burned all over his body and the curse was hell. He couldn't hear any real words any longer, just see Abraxas's mouth move a lot, veins standing out in the blond's neck and people moving around.
Just as his body began to shudder from the pain, the curse lifted itself from Astus's body and it was like weight disappearing from his chest. Astus got to enjoy the relief for perhaps a moment before his body took a decision without his permission, and passed out.
-o-
Albus rushed towards Severus and Astus, Astus unconscious and Severus grimacing at the pain. When he got to them, the potions master looked up at Albus and said:
"First, it took you a long time, and second… I've got to check on those bloody wards."
"First, I apologize for the delay but I believe your messenger was caught for a bit too long, and second… I can help you with that. How on Earth did they get in?"
"I was too relaxed, I didn't check the wards enough," Severus said, some blood dribbling out of his mouth. "If you don't mind, can we go inside?"
"Isn't the doors locked?" Lily asked.
"Lucius," Severus coughed out. "Send up a flare so Petunia sees it. Enough so she'll look out."
The blond nodded and sent up a rainbow of colours, making some Order members startle as they were rounding up the rebels.
A few Aurors had their wands out but when they pointed them at Astus Abraxas reacted.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?!" he growled.
One of them looked at the blond. "We… we're taking him in for questioning."
"No, you're not. He's on our side."
"He's a vampire!"
"Yes, and he's on our side!" Abraxas said.
"Vampires aren't on our side!" one Auror said, sneering and conjured ropes. "Step aside, Malfoy."
"I bloody will not. If you take one more step I'll rip your intestines clean out, you hear me?!"
Albus quickly stepped between them, hands out and said:
"Mr Astus Mentis is an important member of our Order, and thus on your side as well."
"He's a vampire, Mr Dumbledore!"
"And on our side. He's fought the dark harder than anyone of you, and I would like you to not group him with the rebels of Voldemort," Albus said strongly. "Now, let's get Astus and Severus inside. The rest of you don't look too good either."
Lucius had by that time managed to signal to Petunia to open the doors, and they were pushed open by her and Minty. Minty looked about ready to faint when Severus, whose bleeding had slowed down considerably, was helped inside by Lucius and Bellatrix, and started wailing when she spotted Astus being carried by Abraxas. She didn't seem to know which one to run to first, and finally Petunia led the distressed house-elf away.
Narcissa ran to check if the Floo was working again, as the rebels spells and wards had been torn down, and if it did she would fire-call Poppy on Albus's behalf. In the meantime Severus was laid down on a conjured bed in the hall, Lucius and Bellatrix not risking to injure him further by taking him to his room. Abraxas had taken the stairs in long strides, carrying Astus to his room where it was safe and dark.
Poppy arrived within minutes in a flurry of robes and bags with healing potions, waving her wand about. She nearly dropped it seeing Severus, then she rushed over to him and absently handed the bags with healing potions to Narcissa and Lily who distributed them out to everyone who was injured.
Severus was trying to get up, was held down, and instead sought out Lucius.
"Dad, is he…? Is he alright?" he coughed out.
"He's not dead, if that's what you mean," Lucius replied, helping Poppy to keep Severus lying flat. "I hope he just passed out from exhaustion and being under the strain of that curse."
"Curse?!" Poppy shrieked. "What bloody curse?! Who dared to hurt Astus?"
"Idiots," Severus said and coughed again.
"Stop speaking. Lucius, the curse?"
"It made him vulnerable to sunlight," Lucius said. "Dad took him to his room just now. I think he needs a bit of help on the way to heal all the tissue damage."
"I'll go and have a look once I'm done here," Poppy said. "And your house-elf Gina is resting in my Infirmary. Those rebels did quite a number on her but she's fine now."
"Thank god," Severus breathed out. "I knew she was captured, when you didn't immediately arrive… how bad?"
"She won't have any lasting damage. A few days rest and she'll be up and running again."
Lily healed what she could, but had to stop James before he walked up to the still heavily injured Severus.
"What the hell did that Mentis mean?" James hissed. "He travelled back in time?!"
"James, not now…"
"No, I want to know what he bloody meant by that!" He grabbed his wife's shoulders. "What if he travelled back and fucked things up?! What if this wasn't meant to be?!"
"James, no! Astus is not that sort of person!"
"You don't bloody know him! You barely know him! You can't tell me that with a straight face!"
She couldn't. There was no way she knew enough of Astus's past, or even the years between now and the last time she saw him, still human, so she would know his motives. But in her heart, she knew him. He could do terrible things, but if anything he was always trying to fix things. Make them right.
But she couldn't say that to James. He wasn't that sort of person. He'd say she put too much faith in people and Lily didn't, it was just so easy for her to understand Astus despite their differences. She could read a history of pain and misery in his eyes, even when she was young, and she was certain the only reason it lessened over the years was because he changed something to the better.
-o-
James didn't let the topic rest. Severus had been healed and placed in the living room, redressed in a simple white shirt that hid the bandages, and black slacks, his bare feet propped up on a footstool. When Poppy moved upstairs to check on Astus, James swooped in for the kill. He didn't fist his hands in Severus's shirt but slammed them down on the arms of the chair Severus was seated in and said:
"What the hell did your father mean? Is he some sort of time-traveller?!"
"Yes, he is," Severus replied, staring at James. "What of it?"
"What of… what of it?! Are you mental?! So what, he went back in time and fucked everything up?!"
"James!" Lily moved towards them, ready to drag her husband away.
Severus opened his mouth before she was there, and said:
"If he hadn't gone back in time we would all be dead."
Lily and James stared. Sirius and Remus, standing behind Lily, stared as well. The rest of the people were spread out, reporting back to the Ministry or going back to Hogwarts. A few milled around inside the manor.
James stepped backwards, stumbled and fell down on one of the couches.
"What?" Lily said. "What are you saying?"
"If dad hadn't gone back in time, everyone in this room would be dead. You and Potter would die young. Black would have followed years later as a fugitive, same with me and Remus."
"Fugitive?" Sirius asked, voice choked.
"Yes. Dad said you spent around twelve years in Azkaban for a crime you didn't commit," Severus said. "You knew Harry for two years before you died."
"Two years?" Sirius sank down on his knees.
"I myself would have died in Harry's arms," Severus added.
James flinched hearing that, and then said rather harshly:
"Why?"
"Because our past was different. Our future would have turned out different," Severus said. "So much death and destruction, because Voldemort lived. He survived far, far longer the first time around. One person decided to change that. Harry James Potter set out to rewrite the history he knew, and change the future he didn't want."
The man was slow on the uptake but Lily knew right away. She stumbled over to her husband, fell down next to him and managed in a shaky whisper:
"Harry… Astus is Harry? He's our son?"
James gaped. Severus smiled humourlessly and nodded even as he relaxed back in the armchair.
"Astus Mentis," he began, "was known to people in his original timeline as Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, and the Dark Lord Voldemort's ultimate demise. He has killed Voldemort twice. That's gotta be some kind of heroic record, if there ever existed such a thing."
James didn't say anything. Instead he lolled to the side and quite promptly fainted. Lily's mouth moved but no sounds came out. Sirius and Remus stared, at each other, at their friends, then at Severus who rested his head in his hand.
"Certainly not the reaction I expected," he said. "Dad was convinced that James would shout at me and not believe a word I said. See how much he knows about his own father."
-o-
Astus had been cleaned and redressed, but he lay deathly still on the recently made bed. Abraxas stroke his hair, petted it while Poppy continued to examine him.
"Well, there are no curses," Poppy said after a while. "But he should be awake."
"He's been under a lot of strain today," Abraxas said.
"Still, he should be awake. Either way, he'll be feeling quite unwell when he does wake up. I would suggest having a bowl here, unless you think you can get him to the toilet quick enough."
"The bowl will have to do. I won't cause him any pain or stress. He's had enough for a long time."
Poppy nodded and set aside a few potions. "These might help. I didn't know if Severus had any at home, so those are some I took that are safe for non-humans."
"You, Poppy Pomfrey, are an angel."
"Hardly," she snorted. She rose up and Abraxas tucked Astus in. "Now, I would suggest someone stays with him. We wouldn't want him to accidently hurt himself trying to get to someone."
"I understand."
"Call on me if there are any changes for the worse. I am quite confident there are none though."
"Thank you."
She nodded and left. Abraxas turned back to Astus and slowly lay down next to his lover, stroking the cleaned, dark hair. Some of Astus's flesh was still exposed but now the blond could see how it was healing slowly.
After a few minutes, there was a soft knock and Abraxas sat up when Lucius helped Severus inside.
"You foolish child, you should be in bed," Abraxas fussed even as he stood up to help Severus over to Astus's bed.
"Not until I see him," Severus said. "The others… they know about father's identity."
"How…?"
"They heard him earlier," Lucius said, "and Severus said he told them."
"Not details. Father deserves to know that they know, and share with them if he so wishes," the potions master said. "They're still recovering from the shock. How is he?"
Severus was helped to lie down and he immediately turned to he could look at Astus.
"He's fine. Poppy said he'll feel ill when he wakes up but other than that he's just resting. He's had a long day," Abraxas said.
"We all have," Lucius said, hand resting on his friend's shoulder. "Severus, why don't you sleep for a little bit?"
Severus shook his head.
"Severus," Abraxas said gently, "please rest. You're injured."
"Poppy healed me."
"And we both know resting is all that remains for her healing to be a success. I don't say you have to move away, just try to relax."
The potions master considered this, and slowly closed his eyes. Lucius made sure to cover him up to his shoulder, and it was to both their relief when Severus soon slipped into a deep sleep.
Astus didn't wake up at all for the rest of the day, not even moving. It was Abraxas who finally turned him, not wanting him to be sore once he woke up. Severus barely moved at that, just nuzzling the pillow and relaxing further into the bed.
"How are the others?" Abraxas asked his son when Lucius came in with some dinner. Well, Minty was carrying the dinner and Lucius followed her.
"The guests? They are still rather shocked over the revelation. Petunia has gone to bed, along with the kids. Narcissa is with Draco now. I think Bellatrix is cleaning up around the manor."
"Does cleaning mean burning corpses?"
"No, the corpses have been removed by Ministry Aurors to be checked over. They suggested the Potters stay here for the time being, but believe we took out most of the rebel forces."
"That was all of them?" Abraxas said.
"There are far more people with dark affinities, but they had found themselves in this society," Lucius said. "We are one such family. There is no need to fight it, because it's fine."
"Dark Arts are still frowned upon."
"Well, I didn't say there couldn't be improvements. Thank you, Minty."
The house-elf nodded, crawled up on the bed and padded over to her masters.
"Severus is just a wee tired, Minty. Astus will be fine."
Minty ignored Abraxas and fussed over the two sleeping men before jumping down, tugging at the covers one final time before levelling her eyes at the two Malfoys.
"Minty will come again before bedtime," she declared and scurried out.
Abraxas sighed and took one of the plates on the tray she had left. It was going to be a long night.
-o-
The morning of the next day was a nightmare. They had all been woken up by a scream from Astus's bedroom.
Astus, still unconscious, had suffered an attack and it took Lucius and Abraxas to almost lay on him to keep him still. Severus was still too weak from his injury to be of much help except for whispering in his father's ear, trying to calm him down.
Finally he did, panting, blood colouring his lips and fangs fully showing. Severus gathered his father's head in his lap even as knocked on the door. Lucius opened and it revealed Lily and Petunia, both pale and with bed-tousled hair.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"Astus… well, I don't know what's wrong with him."
"Should we call for Poppy?"
"Please."
Lily rushed down the hall while Petunia came in. She sat down near Severus and strokes a hand over his bent back. Severus looked up, offered just a blank stare before turning back to his father. Astus's eyes moved underneath his eyelids, but that and his heaving chest was the only movements.
Poppy came within five minutes and after a series of diagnostic spells she sat back and said:
"There's nothing I can do. We just… have to let him have them."
"What do you mean?" Severus whispered.
"These attacks are most likely caused by the curse he was under. The remnants are… flushing out of his system, causing the attacks. They are actually good for him."
"Good?" Abraxas said. "He's coughing blood!"
"That is an unfortunate side-effect, but he'll live. A vampire can handle that," Poppy said. "Of course he can be given pain relievers once he wakes up but for now… oh!"
Astus arched, clawing the bed sheets and coughed, blood dribbling out. Then he flailed with his arms and his eyes opened wide, but there was no life in them. Abraxas grabbed in yet again, and Lucius caught the man's legs.
For the next hour, Astus suffered four more attacks, but for each he coughed less blood, until an attack came that had him just tremble on the bed, teeth chattering. Severus strokes his father's sweaty hair.
When the vampire's eyes finally slid open to reveal someone behind them, it wasn't what Severus had expected. Poppy and Petunia had left, leaving Severus, Abraxas and Lucius alone with Astus.
They all moved closer when Astus moved. Severus however froze upon realizing there was no sign of recognition when his father looked at him. Astus blinked, and a spark lit up. It wasn't the memory of his son, Severus could see that, and steeled his heart.
"Professor… Snape?"
Abraxas held onto Severus's shoulder. Severus swallowed with some difficulty. It had been the hardest the first time it had happened; after an accident involving a stone floor and Astus's head, and the vampire had been confused about events for a few days. So now it wasn't so difficult to clear his throat and say:
"Yes, Mr Potter. Go back to sleep."
Astus blinked some more, and then his eyes slid close. The body went limp once more. Severus reached out and took his father's hand, wishing for him to return to normal as soon as possible.
-o-
The next time Astus woke up, it was with a gasp and he quickly sat up. Severus gripped the arms of the chair. Abraxas and Lucius had left a little while ago, Lucius to be with his wife and son, Abraxas to focus on something else.
Astus turned his head towards Severus. For a moment, they just stared at each other.
"I called you professor Snape again," Astus said softly at last.
"Father? Are you…"
"Yes. I believe I am alright now."
Severus climbed onto the bed and hugged Astus tightly, breaking down when he felt his father reassuringly hug him back.
Abraxas was back in a few minutes. By that time the two had gotten breakfast delivered by Minty, as it was morning, and was discussing a few potions when the blond entered.
"Astus."
The raven-haired man smiled and stretched out a hand to his blond lover. Abraxas quickly crossed the room and took the hand, then hauled him close.
"You made us so worried," Abraxas whispered, moving back and taking Astus's head in his hands. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine."
"We should call Poppy."
"We should not," Astus whined. "I feel fine!"
"Call her," Severus said.
"Traitor!"
"We need to hear her say you're fine, because you have a tendency to hide your pain from others," Severus said. "Dad, it'll take five minutes."
"Five minutes of torture!"
"Don't whine. You're not three years old."
"Torture. No, I refuse."
"Too bad. Abraxas…"
"Certainly."
The blond spelled Astus stuck to the bed, and went off to fire-call Poppy. Astus gaped at him, then at Severus.
"Traitors, the both of you," he mocked.
"Dad, please. Five minutes. You have no idea how bad it looked."
"Alright, alright, fine."
"And then you might have to talk to the Potters and Remus and Sirius."
"Why?" Astus asked suspiciously.
"They know you are a time-traveller, and that you used to be Harry James Potter."
Astus's face blanked out. Severus wondered for a moment if he should try to run, but his wound wouldn't let him get very far.
"Oh," the vampire said finally. "Oh… I… didn't quite think about them knowing one day."
"Potter wouldn't let it rest."
"No, I imagined he wouldn't. Oh well. I can deal with that too. It's not like I look at them now and think parents, you know?"
"I know."
"I never even knew them as parents, parents is a concept I've never learnt, just guessed about."
"You yourself are a pretty good parent," Severus said.
"Oh, thank you. I hope I did a good job."
"Astus!"
Poppy rushed in and immediately started pulling at him. Astus made a face.
"I told you two, torture! You're going to let her torture me?!"
"As long as it gets you examined," Abraxas shot back.
Astus grumbled throughout it all, but Poppy breathing a sigh of relief made the other two men relax.
"See?" Astus said. "I'm fine."
"You, young man, are trying to scare us too much."
"Young man? Oh dear, I haven't been called that in a while."
"Don't tempt me to torture you further; I do have a few spells I can think off that will keep you in my grasp for days…"
"No, don't let her!" Astus said, reaching for Abraxas. "You horrible, horrible woman. Don't scare me like that!"
"Now, when I came through here, the Potters and friends seemed quite agitated," Poppy began. "What happened?"
"Things," Astus said. "I guess I have to talk to them."
"You don't have to," Severus said.
"They won't let us alone until I do," the man reminded his son. "I rather talk about it, and then put it behind me. My past is not going to continue to haunt me as it like. I hate haunting things, let it be pasts or stupid houses…"
"You don't mind ghosts."
"I never said I disliked them, Severus, do keep up."
"Father, what are you doing?"
Astus was half-way out of the bed when all three, Severus, Abraxas and Poppy just pushed him back down again. He looked at them and said:
"I'm going to talk to the Potters."
"No, you are not," Poppy said. "You need rest."
"I have been resting."
"That wasn't resting, that was being unconscious. You're going to stay in this bed for a while longer before you go and talk to anyone."
"There's nothing wrong!"
"You just spent the last twenty-four hours unconscious, and having attacks! You can't come and say nothing's wrong, you little brat!"
"You… you just called me a brat! I'm not a brat!"
Astus however, didn't try to move again. Instead he sank down in the bed and tugged at both Abraxas and Severus until they gave in and moved closer.
"There," the vampire said happily. "Nice and close."
"Dad, I'm not a kid."
"Quiet."
Severus sighed but only moved to get a potions book that was resting on the nightstand. Abraxas and Astus burrowed down while Severus was content to read the book, half-lying in bed next to them.
After a while though Astus sat up and looked at the dozing Abraxas.
"You're going to talk to them?" Severus asked.
"Might as well get it over with."
"Just remember that no matter what, I still love you dad. Abraxas still loves you. Hell, a lot of people adore you, so don't let them get you down."
Astus smiled at that. At some point they both had learned that Astus did like to hear it out loud once in a while, even if it was embarrassing.
"And do try to keep… the details at a minimum," Severus added.
"Alright, alright, I will."
"I mean it. You can be rather graphic at times."
"I won't be it now! Well, maybe if James chooses not to believe me…"
"Dad…"
"Fine."
Astus got off the bed and sauntered into the bathroom. There he showered, for once taking his time to get really clean, and when he got out there was a neat pile of clothes waiting for him. He smiled, drying himself with a wave of his hand and set out to dress. Comfortable slacks, white shirt and a waistcoat, and a black robe with fine stitching in dark green threads.
Before going out Astus stopped for a moment before the bathroom mirror. He had been surprised the first time as a vampire seeing his own reflection. He thought vampires couldn't see themselves.
Now he was staring at himself, tugging at the collar of his robe, starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. He had honestly never thought of Lily or James ever finding out who he had once been, and wasn't sure what to tell them now. Did they see him as someone who interfered? But if he hadn't, they wouldn't be alive, Severus would have grown up bitter and cold, and died too early as well… and Lucius, hell the whole Malfoy clan, and Bellatrix… god, Bellatrix, she would have been tortured to insanity whilst still a child. Astus didn't regret interfering. A lot of people who had died was now alive, and would continue to be alive as long as he had any say in it. He may not know them the same way he did the first time, but that was a sacrifice he was all too willing to make.
Lily was the first to see him when he walked downstairs. She stopped dead, and Astus did the same. Then he cleared his throat and continued down, towards her. Lily got her voice working again:
"Are you feeling better?"
"Ah, yes, much better. Poppy has stopped torturing me as well."
"Torturing?"
"Medical scans. Sometimes I think she does it because she knows how much people hate it."
Lily gave him a half-smile before she just looked at him.
"You…" she started.
"I don't look like either of you, do I?" Astus said. "Some changes I made myself, but as young… or, as a teen, everyone said I looked like James."
"You did?" she whispered.
"Except for one thing."
"You have my eyes," Lily said. "I always thought it was strange, and nice, and kind of cool. That Severus's father had the same eyes as I do."
"It was the only compliment I ever liked. That I had my mother's eyes, and that I didn't always act like my father, who was a complete prick." Astus looked over at her, and continued seeing her frown, "Oh, believe me Lily; he was ten times worse in this other time. Or, I think so. Maybe he was worse. All I know is that… a professor at my school spent seven years hating my face, because I looked like James Potter."
Lily looked near tears. Astus cleared his throat.
"I'm sure James would like to hear this too. I rather not repeat it twice."
"Of course…"
James was indeed waiting, but was definitely more wary when Astus stepped into the living room.
"The children?" he asked.
"Outside with Petunia and Bellatrix," Lily replied. "Apparently Bellatrix is pretty good at Quidditch."
"Ah, yes, in my school days I was the seeker. I may have taught her a thing or two," Astus said.
"In your school days? Which one?" James said.
"The first time around. I became the seeker for Gryffindor when I was eleven."
"Eleven?" Lily said. "That's impossible; you would have been too young…!"
"Even professor McGonagall agreed with my position. She even gave me a broom, most kind of her. Nimbus 2000, if I remember correctly." Astus had walked over one of the armchairs and sat down. "Alright. What… do you wish to know beyond the fact I once had the name Harry James Potter?"
"Why did you decide to come back and change the past?" James said. "Mentis… Severus mentioned a bit of it, but I guess… I want to hear you say it."
"Fine." Astus looked away for a bit, and then back. "You and Lily died on Halloween after my first birthday, murdered by Voldemort due to a prophecy concerning me. Where is Peter Pettigrew?"
"What?" Sirius said.
"Where is he?"
"Dead," Lily supplied faintly. "Accident… it was years ago."
"Oh," Astus said. "Good."
"Why the hell is that good?!" James demanded to know.
"Because he was the one who sold your lives to Voldemort in order to survive. He left people to die, as long as he survived. He was a pathetic excuse of a living being, and if I ever find his grave, I will spit on it. Moving on, I don't like talking about that worm."
They stared at him. Astus looked away again.
"Anyway, that's how you died. Sirius was imprisoned for that though, everyone believing he was a Death Eater. You spent twelve years in Azkaban, and was killed two years later… by your cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Lestrange?" Sirius said. "You mean she…"
"She married Rodolphus Lestrange yes, but before that she had been tortured to insanity by Voldemort," Astus said. "When she was still a child. Bellatrix Lestrange and Bellatrix Black are both crazy, but I prefer Bellatrix Black who is more amusing than scary."
"I can't believe Bellatrix was bad in any way," Lily said.
"And that's how Sirius died. Plus he was thrown into the Veil of Death at the Ministry, so there wasn't even a body to bury. Anyway, Remus… you died along with a lot of people. Now, by any chance, do you know a Nymphadora Tonks?"
Remus reddened slightly, and Sirius laughed now.
"Admit it, mate, you fancy my cousin!"
"She's… a bit young."
"She fancies you!" Sirius exclaimed. "Wait a minute… why did you mention her?"
Astus, who had been watching the exchange with a smile on his lips, now wove his fingers together and said:
"Alright, just a wee spoiler then… she was for a while Nymphadora Lupin. Your wife."
Remus looked about ready to faint.
"Hopefully you two will never go through that again."
"What… my death?" Remus said.
"No. You died together. You and Nymphadora were found in the aftermath of the last battle against Voldemort, side by side. Both of you, dead. She always changed her looks to cheer me up."
They were silent. Astus looked down at his knees.
"Most of the people I know today were already dead by the time I heard of them, or died over the years," he said finally. "And I was never friends with the Malfoys. In fact, Abraxas had died long before I was even born. Killed by the Light wizard, which caused Lucius to join Voldemort. In the end, the dark killed Lucius because he tried to do the right thing and protect an innocent child."
"Lucius was…"
"He was a Death Eater the first time around. I always thought of him as a prick, a cold-hearted prick. I and his son Draco never got along. Never. I was the stupid Gryffindor and Draco was the slimy Slytherin. And to think now, I see them both as extensions to my family."
"What about us?" James asked.
"I'm sorry if this makes you feel sad or angry, but I never really saw you two as my family. I always, so some degree, felt alone. Abandoned, for various reasons."
"But surely you can't have been that alone," Lily tried with. "I mean, Harrison…"
"I wasn't finished, Lily," Astus said and rose up so he could gaze out of the window, his back towards them. "There was no Harrison for me. I was an only child. I was alone."
"No family at all?" James said. "That can't be… we have twins!"
"When I look at them," Astus said with a ghost of a smile on his lips, "I see a mix of myself. Brash, brave Harry and quiet, timid Harrison… they are a mixture of who I used to be. Although, I wasn't quiet and timid by nature, like Harrison… I did it by choice, to avoid being yelled at."
"What?" Lily and James looked at each other, then at his back. He could see their reflection, just barely, in the window.
"The family I lived with. They never liked me, and it was better for all of us when they pretended I didn't exist."
"Who were they?" Lily asked.
They could all see him tense up.
"No one special," he replied.
"Who were they?" she demanded to know.
"Their surname was Dursley."
"Dursley? Some random Muggle family took you in? Dursley isn't a magic name at all!" James exclaimed.
"I was related to the woman in the family." Astus turned around and looked at them. "She was a very bitter, and angry, and sad woman. She never once looked me in the eyes. She despised magic more than anyone I will ever know. Her name was Petunia. Your sister, Lily."
Lily stared at him.
"First, magic took her sister away to a strange school," Astus said softly. "Then I guess me, as Astus, wasn't there to introduce her to this world, tell her it was alright. She lived outside of this world, watching you drift away from her. And then magic took your life. The first time I met Petunia in this time was the first time I ever looked at my aunt with some sort of pity. Up until then, I had hated her with everything I got. Her and her horrid husband, Vernon Dursley."
"That is…"
"Yes, the man who tried to date your sister in university," he said with a hollow laugh. "I guess she married him the first time around. I hated to live with them. I hated them. They were the reason why I almost started hating Muggles in general. Now, they never physically touched me, they tried to avoid acknowledge my existence, but being called freak whenever noticed tends to leave their own, festering wounds over the years."
Astus quieted down. Lily had found her way to sit down and was just staring out in the air. The others weren't much better.
"I thought…" James began finally. "I assumed…"
"You do that a lot, don't you? Assume when you have no knowledge, nor right to do it?" Astus said softly. "Did you honestly think, when you heard I was a time-traveller, that I had gone back in time to kill Voldemort twice. To be the hero twice?"
James glanced over him, but one look told Astus all he needed to know.
"All I have ever wanted, James Potter, is living a life that makes me happy," Astus said. "I didn't want to be special. I wasn't, and I'm not special now. I have power, yes, but anyone has that. What I truly desired was a better life for everyone, myself included. The first time I killed Voldemort, I knew I was free, but it wasn't the freedom I wanted. I had lost everything and everyone that mattered to me. Hogwarts was stained with the blood of innocent children, filled with corpses. Even now, when I look at her, I can still see the bodies. Hogwarts had fallen, even though we had won."
"Astus stop…" Lily begged.
"You wanted to hear. Did you expect a pretty fairy tale? I had killed Voldemort and it wasn't a fairy tale, it was a hell that I had lived through. I killed the enemy of the world, but for what? My friends were all dead. People I once saw as enemies lay littered around my feet because they decided to do one good thing in their lives. My world was dead, Lily, so I decided to try and stop that from happening."
"By playing a martyr," came a voice.
All but Astus flinched. Severus walked into the room.
"In that way, you truly are a Gryffindor. Always think you are the one who have to save everything."
"I'm getting better at it! I don't throw myself mindlessly into danger anymore."
"Believe that delusion, dad, believe that."
"I don't!"
"You do. It's a slow progress. Are you alright with the sunlight?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm perfectly alright standing in the sunlight. I will not turn into dust or howl my head off, but I just might chase you around like a demented bat if you continue to nag on about it."
"Someone needs a nap. Or get laid. Which one do you prefer?" Severus asked with a smirk.
"Who said I haven't been laid lately?"
"Too much information," the potions master hurriedly said.
"Well, don't go asking for it then," Astus said, smirking.
"Everyone died?" James interrupted.
"Yes, everyone died," Astus replied.
"Do you have proof?"
"Do you still need it?" he asked, walking close to James ever so slowly. "Do you really need to have the evidence smacked in your face before you choose to believe it? I thought you were a Gryffindor. Don't they have a tendency to just believe in people?"
"Dad, you better include yourself too."
"Well, I was hopelessly naïve as a school child," Astus confessed. "It was war and death that made me bitter and grumpy."
James flinched but didn't look away. Astus sighed.
"Severus… you might want to go outside."
The potions master didn't protest. Instead his lips tightened and he glanced over at James.
"And no, don't think of how to curse Mr Potter for demanding proof," Astus continued calmly.
"Just one hex?" Severus asked, making James jump.
"No. Act your age."
"Potter would've hexed me if I dared to do something similar to a relative of his."
"That doesn't matter. I know he's probably never really acted his own age, so set an example and go outside."
Severus crossed his arms, but didn't say anything more before stalking out of the room. A little while later they heard the slamming of a door. Astus turned his back to James and held out a hand.
"Well?" James managed.
"Shush. No need to be impatient. The stone usually comes to me when I want it."
"The what?" Sirius wanted to know.
"The stone, do pay attention. Ah, there it is."
To their great shock, a small, black stone came floating into the room, straight to Astus's outstretched palm where it landed gently. He turned to them, the stone in his hand and said:
"Do you know what this is?"
"No," James said while the others came a bit closer.
"This, Mr Potter, is the Resurrection Stone."
"Isn't that from a fairy tale?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, it most certainly is. Only it wasn't really a fairy tale, and it wasn't particularly happy either," Astus said. "This stone brings back your loved ones, or whoever you might think about, from their graves, but it is not a blessing. It's a curse. What this stone gives you is but a mere echo of the person you once knew, and the ghost of that person fades away in time."
"You say that the fairy tale was real?" Remus questioned.
"It is real," Astus said. "And it's deadly. One died for power. One died for love. And one greeted death like an old friend."
"What was that?" Lily asked.
"Nothing. Just something I've been thinking about for a long time. Now then, a person from my past should suffice as proof, right? Please wait a moment then."
Astus closed his eyes, encased the stone with his fingers and for that moment all was still. Then, something passed through the air. A rustle of cold air, and Astus opened his eyes. He focused on something behind them and swallowed with some difficulty.
"Aah… I wasn't quite prepared for that," he said faintly. "Hello, professor Snape."
Snape. The name that Severus would have had if he hadn't been adopted by Astus. The Severus Snape from Astus's youth. They all turned around, and together they gasped for breath.
It was Severus, yet it wasn't. This Severus was transparent, a ghost from a lost time, and blood splattered all over his dark robes, up in his face, covering his neck and hands.
"Voldemort had a snake, Nagini. In my time, she was the ultimate cause of Severus's death. She bit him and he died either of her poison or of blood loss. I didn't care which back then. All I cared for was the fact his last words to me were 'Look at me'."
"Look at me?" Lily whispered.
"My time's Severus Snape only ever loved one single person. A woman, with lovely red hair and clear green eyes," Astus said. "He loved you so much, Lily, in that life. A bitter man who lost everything. His last wish was to look at your eyes. Since I had them, I would like to think he at the very least died peacefully."
Severus's ghost hadn't moved. In fact, he wasn't even looking at them. He was staring out of a window, and Astus glanced that way. He laughed quietly.
"Yes, professor," he said, "that's you now. Running around like a child, chasing your friend Lucius around like you never left school. You're happy here. I do hope you don't mind that I butted in with all my Gryffindor nonsense and Potter foolishness, and of course my stupid bravado that makes me want to save the universe."
There was a silence, and then came a snort, and it most certainly came from the ghost Severus. He glanced over at Astus.
"Hardly, Mr Potter," his deep, rich voice supplied. "I dare say this future is much better than the one we lived through. Now, you probably should stop thinking about the rest before they come crawling here. Literally."
"You're talking about Lucius aren't you?"
"Not just him. I hardly think you'd like to see the remains of Draco, now would you?"
"Please, no, I'll pass on that," Astus said with a cough. "Do tell everyone I said hi."
"Duly noted, Potter. I hope this will be the last time," Severus said and crossed his arms. "I don't think I'm the person for this, but moping around in the past will do no one any good. I bloody didn't do any good at all for my part."
"Severus…" Lily whispered.
"Let it be, Lily," Astus said. "My original time's Severus, he made his choices, the best he could at least, and we have to live by them. Yes, he died but at least I made sure they all knew why."
"Oh no, not that Gryffindor nonsense again about heroes and what not," Severus grumbled, glaring at him. "If you had been in school, I would have taken points."
"I haven't been to school for some time." There was an almost sick smile on his face. "And this hero and what not… you know me. I just have to do it."
Severus snorted again. Then he flickered, began to fade out of sight and said:
"That mutt of a godfather of yours shouts that you shouldn't look so gloomy. He… what? What?! I am not saying that, Black! No, I bloody well will not!"
He was clearly shouting at someone, and they heard echoes of a voice coming back. Astus laughed a bit.
"Whatever it is, Sirius," he said aloud, making them gasp, "I'm sure it's got something to do with a horrible, horrible and absolutely terrible prank. I'll be happy to oblige."
"Potter, what…?! You infernal little brat…!"
"Good night, professor," Astus told the fading ghost. "I'll try not call again."
"See that you don't, Potter. Nothing good comes out of talking with the dead."
Then Severus Snape was gone. James turned towards Astus, as did Sirius and Remus. Lily was already staring at Astus.
The vampire stared down at the Resurrection Stone. He then swallowed with difficulty and said:
"I should probably tell Abraxas to hide this from me."
"Why?" Lily asked.
"Because now I feel like talking to Hermione and Ron, but if I do that I'll never stop calling for them."
"How… did they die?" James managed.
"They died," Astus said, looking at him. "Isn't that enough? They died in front of me. I was supposed to be the hero, but I only succeeded after everyone had died. I didn't even like Draco Malfoy before, and I couldn't stop crying seeing what they had done to him. I can never let Lucius, Narcissa or Abraxas see that form. Just as much as I can't let them see Lucius's ghost either. Not that there was really much left of his body…"
Astus grew quiet, and a few tears slipped from his eyes. He absently dried them and sniffed.
"And now I would like you to believe me, stop doubting me, never ask me any questions about that time again, and let me be with my Severus. Severus Mentis is the only Severus that matters now. Severus Snape was a person of my past, and is better left alone. Severus Snape was a bitter man, left alone for most of his life, hurt more than I ever thought, and he hated me. But still he must have liked me, because he kept saving my arse year after year. And I couldn't do anything in return."
Astus absently moved the stone from one hand to the other.
"I was supposed to be the hero," he said with a humourless smile, "but to be honest? Severus Snape was the bravest man I ever knew."
He left the room, and no one stopped him.
-o-
Abraxas had apparently taken "that stupid, bloody, rotten, sodding stone" away from Astus and screamed at James for making Astus take it out in the first place, and then Astus calmed Abraxas down and sent him out in the sunshine to let him cool off.
Severus returned inside and looked at the three Marauders and Lily.
"You saw… the me from his past?" he asked.
Lily nodded.
"Bit snarky there, wasn't I? Dad didn't really tell me much. And I guess I don't really want to know. Seeing myself as a ghost was actually bad enough."
"You don't mind? Knowing all this?" she asked.
"Well, he didn't tell me until I was ready for it," he replied. "He skipped over most of the details, just let me know enough to realize that this time around a lot of things turned out much better."
"He said we weren't alive," James admitted.
"I know that. Actually… your ghosts showed up, before he could stop it. It was a bit strange, seeing people you know are living as ghosts."
"Did you see… someone else?" Lily wondered.
"You mean like Lucius, or Draco?" Severus clarified, and then shook his head. "He absolutely wouldn't let me, so I guess they weren't a pretty sight. I know I wasn't one."
He looked out again, where the children happily moved around, unaware of what the adults had learned, and then at the stairs.
"Dad, shouldn't you be resting?"
"I would like to take a stroll in the forest," Astus replied. "With Abraxas. We might… be gone a while."
"Oh," Severus said. "I think that's enough details."
"Good, because you're not getting any more than that."
The day moved on, the kids coming inside for lunch and it was then Lily saw Severus, in the living room whilst reading, hold up a coin and casually flipping it between his fingers, just like Harrison had done in Diagon Alley before this whole chaos began. She blinked. Then she looked for her son, found him with his nose stuck in a book before he was to be dragged out by his twin again, and walked over.
"Harrison," she said and he looked up. "That coin trick you do…"
"Yeah?"
"Who taught you that?"
Harrison smiled a little. "Professor Mentis. When I had detention once, I had to clean some cauldrons. He was doing it while correcting some essays and he taught me after my detention."
"You, a detention?" Lily raised her eyebrow. Harry was more prone to detentions than Harrison.
"Well… it's a long story. And I didn't mind the detention. Professor Mentis seemed more amused than angry at me anyway."
"Why would he be angry?"
"I'm at the top of my year in potions, you know that. I and Draco, so one would think he'd get mad when both of them get into trouble."
"Draco Malfoy had a detention as well? What did you do?"
"Prank," was all Harrison said. "We didn't get the idea from dad, so don't yell at him. We didn't hurt anyone, and the detention was more of a formality."
"And he taught you that coin trick?"
"Yeah. I was surprised, because I thought it was a Muggle trick. Turns out a Muggle did teach him that, but he never told me who."
Lily had a good guess, but she thought she'd let that secret between Severus and Petunia remain that way.
-o-
Astus and Abraxas returned before dinner, but not before Astus had a quick word with Petunia. It was only after dinner that Lily noticed that her sister was missing, and she wasn't with Bellatrix or Narcissa. So the redheaded woman began to look for her, checking most obvious spots before she accidently caught a look outside.
Severus and Petunia… walking together. Yes, definitely walking together, and walking closely together. Her only thought it was about time, and didn't give a damn about the details that led her sister and friend to take a walk, in the evening sun, alone. She was so happy she could squeal.
James, who had come over to see what she was looking at, dropped his jaw. Lily snorted and elbowed him.
"Come on!" she said. "Don't tell me you missed all the signs! Those two were like teenagers in love, around each other and whenever their names were mentioned!"
"No way… wait, wait, wait, no. No! Doesn't that mean… Mentis will…?"
"Oh yes," Lily said. "Looks like Severus will be a part of the family."
James bemoaned his fate but he wasn't the only one groaning though. The Potter pair, along with Sirius who had trailed after James, turned to see Lucius stare at Severus and Petunia. For a moment fear gripped Lily's heart. Why did he look so crestfallen out? He didn't want the two together?
"Narcissa," Lucius moaned out. "I can't believe it! You bloody won!"
Narcissa glided up to her husband with her natural grace, and delicately put her hand on her husband's arm before replying:
"Of course I won. It was only natural. They acted like we did in our youth."
"Don't you mean the same way you always have acted?" Astus added. "Aaw, look at them. The perfect romantic picture. How come you never took me out for a walk in the evening sun, Abraxas?"
"Because you were much too fond of walking out into a blizzard, face first, instead of taking easy walks late at nights."
"Blizzards are fun," Astus said. "Fresh air and all that."
"Bloody freezing air if you ask me," Abraxas muttered.
"Does this mean I get to plan their wedding?" Narcissa suddenly said.
"You mean you haven't already planned it?" Lucius drawled.
"Oh, I have. Five times. I just thought they would be allowed to at least peak at it before I send for fabrics and take their measurements."
"Lucius, what did you do in preparation with your and Narcissa's wedding?" Astus said while Lily, James and Sirius were looking at Narcissa strangely. Narcissa herself only smiled radiantly.
"Kept out of the way and said yes to all her ideas," the blond replied. "That's the only way to survive."
"Oh, don't put it that way. I wasn't that obsessed."
"Yes, you were," Abraxas said. "I fled, and I wasn't even part of it from the beginning."
"Alright, I was a bit excited maybe," Narcissa allowed.
"Love, you've planned their wedding five times over," Lucius said. "You don't do merely excited. You do obsess. How many times didn't you plan ours?"
"Fourteen," she confessed. "And I've already planned Bellatrix's twice, but I have to convince her to get married before I can even start on what kind of wedding dress she should have."
"I'm glad I'm not her," Astus said.
"What makes you think I haven't planned your wedding?" Narcissa said, turning to look at Abraxas and Astus.
The two men looked at each other.
"I don't do ceremonies," Astus said. "Too complicated."
"I'm sorry to say this, but I don't fit in a wedding dress," Abraxas added.
"How do you know that?" Narcissa said.
Again they looked at each other. Astus raised an eyebrow. The rest waited for the answer.
"Alright, alright! But it involved Firewhiskey," Abraxas said. "Lots of it, and one thing led to the other. My shoulders are too broad, it wouldn't look nice."
"But if I make it dress robes then?" Narcissa asked.
"Ceremonies, too complicated," Astus stuck with. "And who says we aren't married?"
Narcissa glanced at him, then Abraxas who held up his hands.
"Are you?" Lucius finally asked.
"Well, wouldn't you like to know?" Astus said. "Too bad we ain't telling you lot."
Narcissa narrowed her eyes and tapped her lips with one pale finger.
"We'll see," she said. "I promise you that."
"Um, no offence love, but I really don't want to get on daughter-in-law's bad side," Abraxas said.
"Oh, she loves you. Even if we don't tell her whether we're married or not."
When Petunia and Severus returned inside a while later, they were practically ambushed by the adults in the house.
Lily congratulated her sister even as Lucius said something to Severus to make the potions master blush, badly. Narcissa laughed, and Minty showed up asking if they needed refreshments and of course Lucius had to tell her that her master wasn't stag anymore. That meant Minty began wailing, in happiness mind you, and then she rushed off to break out champagne that Severus had no idea he even had in the house.
The children didn't really get why James were shouting and moaning, and the others laughing, until the whole group was relocated to one of the ballrooms, completely with snacks and drinks. Minty, as ever, was a very resourceful house-elf, and Gina was back as well.
Lily knew she was getting a bit tipsy later on, as they had moved outside and watched a bonfire that Bellatrix was losing control over, she and Lucius had been a bit too hard on the Firewhiskey earlier and now Lucius lay moaning with his head in his wife's lap. Petunia took all the chances she had snuggling up to Severus, and Lily didn't blame her.
As the lulling effects of alcohol made her sleepy, Lily grinned for no reason at all. She was just so happy. So many things had happened, in such a short time, but she had a feeling they would all be very long-lasting this time around.
Tbc…
Yes, Petunia and Severus! I don't think I've ever seen this pairing before, but then again, I've never gone looking for it either. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
And just the epilogue left! Just the epilogue now and I hope I will get it out before Christmas. One never knows!
Until later,
Ja,
Tiro