Chapter 10.
Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed and to PiffyEQ for your continued support it means a lot. JRead and review please! Severus is going to be known as Nikoloas from now on because Lily is addressing him as such and I don't want there to be any confusion.
"C'mon Nick! Just one date. If you don't like him then I'll dump him for you pleeeaaase." Lily sighed as her best friend ignored her attempts to make him socialise and knew she'd have to resort to blackmail. Nikoloas having a caring father was really turning out to be very convenient. For him, of course.
"Nikoloas Adrian Riddle!" Nikoloas looked up from his book wearily and paled as he watched Lily put her hands on her hips only to freeze and stare behind him in horror.
Closing his eyes in defeat Nikoloas whirled around to see a thoughtful Sirius leaning against the doorframe and tapping his fingers on his chin.
"I remember a rumour going around at one of Mothers fancy-ass parties when I was...oh about 8 or so" he said casually "One lower death eater had been tortured within an inch of his life, poor fellow, all because he asked about the Prince. I asked Mother later who the Prince was- I hadn't really understood at the time you know- and all she gave me was the name "Nikoloas Adrian Riddle." Care to share Sevvie? Or Nikoloas rather."
"Black-" Nikloas stood up and took his wand from the table
"I'm not going to tell anyone. I'll swear a vow right here, right now. An Unbreakable one."
"Stupid reckless Gryffindors. Making vows willy-nilly I bet." Nikoloas grumbled, even as Lily glared at him and stood aside so the boys could face each other for the vow.
"I Sirius Orion Black of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black swear on my magic that I will never reveal the true identity of Nikoloas Adrian Riddle without his permission. So mote it be."
"So mote it be." Nikoloas murmured eyeing Sirius suspiciously.
"Look Nick- can I call you Nick, thanks,- I'm not going to betray you. As long you're happy that suits me fine."
"Alright." Nikoloas twisted the word in his mouth slowly before sighing and going back to his book as Sirius asked
"What were you fighting about anyway?"
"Well I'm trying to set Nick up with-"
"I immediately discourage this." Sirius face was only slightly teasing but his eyes flashed and he looked...jealous? Nikloas ignored it and the happy feeling that accompanied it before tuning back in to Sirius' dismissal of Lily's abysmal idea of setting him up with random people she thought would "help him be more sociable".
"Look Lily I'm sorry but you're just asking for disaster, any bloke who tries to hit on Nick is just gonna get his ego destroyed. Also did ever occur to you that he might just not want to date right now?"
For the first time in his life Severus was grateful to Sirius Black. As Sirius looked at him for reassurance that he wasn't talking nonsense, he nodded to confirm that the Black heir was indeed correct, he found all their year mates far too ignorant and ...well frankly just stupid if he was honest, for him to ever even consider any of them a relationship candidate. Lily gasped and flung herself at him in a bear hug.
"Oh Nick I'm so sorry I didn't even realise- oh I'm sorry I was so pushy. I thought you were just being well, you know,-"
"My usual antisocial self?" Nickoloas finished for her. She whacked him and he mock-groaned in pain which spawned an all out pillow-fight. It had not, Nikoloas mused as he scribbled his "detention work" on a piece of spare parchment, been the best idea to be found giggling in a pile of feathers in Lilys dorm while McGonagall was doing her evening rounds.
Beside him Sirius, who was still coughing up feathers, and Lily were both swamped in work and staring at the detention worksheets like they were Acromanultas and rolled his eyes before copying and handing over his answers. Receiving two "Thanks" in response he nodded and crept towards the door, where an agitated McGonagall was hissing something to Dumbledore. Freezing in horror when he heard the words "Riddle" and someone called Pike before McGonagall let out a relieved sigh at the mention of the "Order".
Nikoloas cursed, swiftly deducing that this Order were going to use Pike to get to his father. He needed to warn him. Now.