Always Gold

Severus hummed along to the Christmas carol playing on the wireless as he put the finishing touches on dinner's roast ham. Once done, he stepped back and mused how much easier putting together Christmas Eve dinner was without a little kid running around the kitchen demanding to help him. As dearly as he loved Leo, Severus wouldn't lie, he was glad the boy's mum had him for Christmas Eve this year. His attention was drawn away from his thoughts when his mum's head popped around the doorframe of the dining room. Smiling, she said, "Severus, Jesse needs you to get the champagne flutes from wherever it is you put them after last year. They aren't in the hutch with the rest of the dinnerwear."

"Of course," he replied as he went to grab the rag by the sink to clean his hands. "I think they're in the cabinet above the cooker." However, just as he was about to reach up and open the cabinet, he heard the Floo flare to life across the hall. "Ro!" Severus exclaimed, excited.

His mum sighed and walked into the kitchen. "I'll get them," she said. "Go welcome your guest."

Severus pressed a kiss to his mum's cheek as he passed her on his way out of the kitchen. "Thanks, Mum."

She patted his shoulder before turning to the cabinet and pulling out her wand to bring down the glasses safely.

The grin ran away from Severus's face as he walked into his home's lounge room to find it wasn't just Rowan inspecting his family's Christmas tree as he waited patiently next to the fireplace, but a big, broad-shouldered man linked arms with a tall, slim woman waiting with his brother too. "G'day…?" he said.

Rowan, the man, and the woman turned together and he relaxed slightly when he recognized the man's face. It'd been years, but he'd know those eyes anywhere. It was Ash, Rowan's— Their younger brother.

"Uh, 'lo?" offered Rowan, head tilted downward in his sheepishness.

Smiling once again, he moved forward to hug his brother. "It's good to see you!" he said. Turning to Ash and the woman, he offered them both his hand to shake as he remarked, "I see you've brought Ash and…" he trailed off a moment and tilted his head as he considered the model-like beauty before him. Severus couldn't be sure, but given the way she was clutching Ash, he said, "Ash's girlfriend? The one Milly told me about? Or…" he stopped again, grinning as he came up with a way to lighten the mood of the three. "You wouldn't happen to be Ro's sheila, would you?" he teased.

A look of outrage flashed across Ash's face. Severus took a step back, which made the woman sigh and place a hand on the youngest brother's chest. "Ash," she chided, "he's having a bit of a laugh, don't frown so." In response, the other man relaxed a little. Seemingly satisfied with this, the woman took the hand he was still holding out for one or both of them to shake and said, "Hello, I am Ash's girlfriend. My name is Matilda. Matilda Roper. It's nice to meet you properly. You probably don't remember me from Hogwarts, I was only a second-year when you graduated…"

Upon hearing Matilda's name, a flurry of memories came back to him. Mostly of a coltish-looking girl with freckles singing with Hogwarts's frog choir at Christmastime. "No, no, I do," Severus reassured. "You were a part of the Frog Choir, weren't you? Professor Flitwick gave you a part in the Christmas duet that last year I was at Hogwarts! You had a very lovely voice, by the way."

Matilda's cheeks turned a rosy pink as she leaned into Ash and rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you," she said.

He smiled at her a moment. Then, realizing they'd been in the lounge room too long for a basic welcome and that his mum and fiancé were probably going to come looking for them any moment, he said with a burst of energy, "Don't just stand there by the fireplace! Come in, come in! Here, give me your robes. I'll put them on the hooks by the door. Jesse's finishing off the last of dinner in the kitchen— It's just across the hall here."

Ash and Matilda were startled into shedding their robes and handing them off to Severus. Then, at his continued urging, followed him out into the hallway where he then pointed the two into the kitchen before going to hang their robes at the door. As he did so, Rowan followed close behind, slipping out of his robe as he whispered, "I'm sorry, they followed me from the hotel!"

Taking Ro's robe from him and hanging it up next to Ash's, he said, "That's what happened, huh?"

His brother nodded. "They just showed up at my room this morning. I think Milly must have mentioned I was coming to Australia for Christmas to her boyfriend's sister who said something to Matilda."

Severus stared at Rowan. There was an anxious furrow to his brows and he looked a little pale and scared. Well, he couldn't allow that. Especially since it appeared it wasn't Rowan's fault they now had two additional guests. Putting on a smile he clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder and said, "Ah, no worries. We've got plenty of food."

As they head toward the kitchen, Rowan said, "I did try to shake them off. They were insistent on joining me for dinner. I think they were afraid I was going to some greasy pub to eat dinner alone or something."

Severus looked over his shoulder at his brother and asked, "Did Ash forget Straya's my home? You could have been meeting me all along!"

Rowan looked to his feet and stopped. "I think that's what they were fearing most of all."

"I see," said Severus as he pursed his lips. He'd always wondered if he could have a close, loving relationship with Ash like he had with Rowan and it was starting to sound like that wouldn't be the case.

Tentatively, Rowan put a hand on Severus's arm and drew his attention to him. "The year after you left was a rather bad one for me, I'll admit," he said only to sigh and put a hand on the back of his neck and look away. "As was the next. Truthfully, I've been digging myself out of a pit since we lost touch and I found out we're actually—"

"Severus!" Jesse shouted in a faux-whisper, cutting off Rowan.

The two of them twisted around to face the other man. It was clear to Severus that his fiancé was not pleased, unsurprisingly. Taking a deep breath, he mustered up a grin and glided forward to take both of Jesse's hands in his and clamp down hard so he couldn't pull away. "Hello, love," he said.

"I thought you said only Rowan would be joining us and your mother for dinner," he growled, eyes narrowed and jaw clenched tight.

Severus was about to tell Jesse what Rowan had said to him only minutes before when Rowan appeared next to him, pale once again, and clearly anxious as he said, "I'm sorry, Jesse, this is all my fault. I couldn't find it in me to say no when they asked to join me for dinner. I haven't had a Christmas dinner with my brother since I graduated from school."

Jesse frowned briefly before saying, "…It's fine. I made more to eat than we needed anyway." Severus's fiancé pulled his hands out of Severus's, turned, and walked back into the kitchen.

"He's quite cross, isn't he?" murmured Ro to Severus.

Jesse was cut. Severus knew he was going to have a Hell of a time making this up to his fiancé later. That, however, was not something his brother needed to worry about. Looking to Rowan, he said, "Jesse is a top bloke and I love him very much, but he's not much of a fan of plans going awry. Unfortunately for you, I used up most of his patience for it lately when we were in Britain last month and I kept dipping out to see Milly and you."

Rowan, head hanging low, said, "I see, well, I brought a bottle of Quintin Black for you two as a Christmas gift. Do you think that will smooth things over?"

Severus tapped his chin with consideration. Jesse wasn't particularly snooty about what he drank, but he still did appreciate and enjoy finer things when offered or gifted to him. He imagined it would be quite appreciated. Especially after today's dinner which Severus was sure was going to have its bumps. "It will help, yes," he agreed.

Rowan put a hand to his heart. "Thank Merlin."

He laughed before grabbing his brother's wrist and giving it a tug. "Come on, bro, let's join the party."

-O-

"How's everyone liking the food so far, hm?" asked Severus after fifteen minutes of near silence beside the sounds of utensils scrapping across plates. His and Jesse's guests began to raise their eyes from their food. Encouraged, he said, "Have you tried the prawns yet? It's a recipe from Jesse's family." His gaze went to his fiancé, who was glaring stubbornly at his plate. "It's excellent."

Severus nearly sighed with relief when he saw a smile flicker across Jesse's face. That was a good sign. If compliments were still working on his fiancé's, that meant Severus probably wouldn't be made to sleep on the couch tonight.

Matilda, who appeared to realize neither of the Montagues were going to answer Severus's questions, smiled at him. "It's very good, thank you for asking."

He grinned back. However, it was only for but a moment, as his attention was drawn to Rowan when he saw his brother reaching into the half-empty dish of prawns for more. He glanced at his roast ham (which was nearly whole!) and began to fuss, "Ah, ah, Ro, don't skip the ham! Mum and I made that."

The younger man froze with his hand on a prawn, eyes wide and uncertain.

His mum put down her fork and knife and cleaned her mouth. Good-naturedly, she chided, "Let the poor boy eat what he wants. That roast ham isn't anything special anyway. Cooking was never a specialty of mine and it isn't one of yours either."

"Mu-um," complained Severus.

Matilda cleared her throat, bringing his gaze back to her. She leaned in and said, "Severus, your mother mentioned you and Jesse are quite recently engaged. Do you have plans for the wedding yet?"

He bit back a groan. He hated talking about their plans. They hadn't really settled on anything yet and Severus wasn't a fan of all of the advice and suggestions that came with the admission. Even so, he kept his tone light as he answered, "Yes."

Jesse, realizing Severus wasn't going to say any more on the matter after Severus picked up his champagne glass, decided to take pity on Matilda who was looking increasingly unsure of herself. He told her, "We're debating between a wedding on the beach and one in my grandparent's garden. My grandmother has quite the green thumb and it's a beautiful place."

Matilda nodded. Eyes a little dreamy, she reached over to place a hand on Ash's wrist and said, "I think a wedding by the seaside sounds lovely." She glanced at her boyfriend, who gave her an almost imperceptible shrug, before continuing, "Ash and I, for fun, you know, have talked about where we'd like to marry if that day comes." She gave a good-natured smile as she rolled her eyes. "He's rather insistent we marry in the chapel his parents did…"

Ro scoffed. Between bites of carrots, he said, "Mother and Father only wed in the chapel because it was what Grandmother Violet wanted. I think they'd be more than happy to see you joined on the seaside."

Ash turned his attention to his older brother. He wore a contemptuous sneer as he said, "Is that so?"

The other man put down his fork and sighed. "Yes, Ash," he replied. "Mother told me once when we looked at her wedding album together."

Still glowering, Ash crossed his arms and demanded, "When was that?"

Ro began to run his fingers through his hair as he turned his gaze to the ceiling. Finally, he answered, "Years and years ago now. She'd brought out that album and all of the others when I asked for a picture of her and father to take with me to Hogwarts."

"Yeah?" said the younger. "It's a shame you don't talk to her anymore."

Matilda went rigid in her seat as she exclaimed, "Ash!"

Rowan was now glaring darkly at their younger brother. His teeth were bared as he hissed, "Forgive me for not feeling chatty with someone who's lied to us all our lives."

Ash stood up. Hands gripping the edge of the table, he yelled, "Lied to us? Mum's never lied! Not even when it came to Great Uncle Amycus and Alecto!"

Now on his feet himself, Rowan leaned over Matilda, who was seated between the two of them, and got in Ash's face and snarled, "That's what you think."

"Okay!" Severus shouted, getting up and going around to put a hand on each of his brother's shoulders. He pushed down gently on their shoulders until they both sat down. Keeping his tone light, he said, "Enough of that. It's Christmas Eve. If you want us to discuss deep, dark family secrets, let's at least save it for after boxing day, aye?"

Ash scowled up at him, gaze irritated and suspicious. "Us?"

There was a quiet thump from somewhere beneath the table as Matilda whispered, "Ash! Shh!"

"Ouch!" he complained even as he did quiet down and return his gaze to his plate.

Severus smiled at the young woman. "Thank you, Matilda," he said as he went to sit back down himself. "I don't know how you put up with him."

Matilda's lip twitched as she replied, "He has his good qualities too."

Severus looked right at Ash and told him, "Marry her."

"Severus!" admonished Rowan, gaping at him.

He rolled his eyes at his brother. "Oh, don't look so scandalized, Ro. Ash's found himself a girl who not only calls him on shit, but defends him when we shit on him! That's the type of spouse everyone should aspire for."

Matilda was blushing and Rowan still looked a little scandalized, but Ash was cracking a true grin for the first time that night. "Is that why you're marrying Jesse?" teased the other man.

Severus laughed and looked over at his fiancé. "It's definitely one of the reasons," he answered.

Ash chuckled some more before he picked up his champagne glass and took a sip. He looked between them and asked, "I hope this is okay, which of you is the father to the little boy in the pictures we saw in the hallway? He looks quite a lot like you, Jesse, but…"

"He is mine," said Severus's fiancé. "Leo was, well, unplanned by me and his mother."

"Is that where he is now? With his mother?" Matilda asked.

Jesse nodded. "Yes. He'll be home tomorrow a little before noon to celebrate Christmas with us." Jesse looked at Severus, smiling. His eyes shone with anticipation as he remarked, "Tomorrow's actually going to be quite the Christmas for Leo. He's getting his first broom from Santa."

"How fun!" Matilda said, clearly delighted by their plan. "I remember when I got mine. It was for my seventh birthday from my grandfather. It was absolutely my top birthday until last year when Ash gave me my familiar, Tibby, this sweet little white fluffy half-kneazle kitten."

"I got my first broom at that age too," mused Severus's mother, eyes wistful. "My brother gave it to me."

"There's nothing like receiving your first broom, is there?" Matilda said.

"No, there isn't."

As the conversation continued onto everyone's first time flying their own brooms, Severus exchanged a look with Jesse. His fiancé looked quite content as the conversation went on around them. Severus himself felt rather pleased with how things were going now. He hoped there might be more Christmases like this in the future. It was nice to be sharing a meal with his brothers, his mum, and Jesse. He'd had many holiday meals growing up with his mum's family, but this felt different in a way. Maybe because it was a small affair centered around a dining room table. With his mum's family, holiday meals felt a bit like a party. Probably because it was always large and loud and people would be scattered across the home of whoever was hosting it. Snape family meals never just included his mum, cousins, their spouses, children and Aunt Edie. Often Uncle Harry, his family, and Teddy would be at them also. Sometimes other Weasleys would tag along as well and a number of times the Mulpeppers would be included too.

Severus glanced at Ash, who was laughing at something his mum had said. He wondered when would be a good time to reveal their true relationship to one another. He'd have to get Rowan alone later and ask. Maybe, if his brother agreed, they could tell Ash together before him, Matilda, and Rowan left for home. He only hoped Ash would take the news well.

Been a while! I hope you all liked this new chapter.

Thank you for reading :)