"The Tale of a Broken Man"

By: PsychoHaired

Disclaimer: Every recognizable term here belongs to J.K. Rowling except a few names, which I borrowed from other books/anime/manga/etc.

A/N- Back again with another chapter! I finally have my high school diploma, I was ranked 11 in a class of 84 students (Yay!), I was on the honour roll, I got a perfect conduct award… wow, I'm the epitome of nerdness. Last night we had our class night in which we give out weird awards like the class drunk or the chimney (smokes a lot), I got the future Picasso award (Yay again!). Oh! And I was nominated for "Tit-tanic" (biggest boobs) but I lost… meh. That was slightly embarrassing what with my dad there and everything… Ahem. This Chapter takes place at Grimauld Place and I'd like to point out that even though it is the first time I write about it, Severus has been here before (says so in one of the letter chapters). Just in case a few things don't make sense. Anyways, here's the new chapter and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 25:

Severus paced the room looking for anything he might be missing; he checked under the bed and pulled out an old shoebox. He sighed and opened it. Inside were all his old pictures with his mum, a few letters she had sent him, a picture of Lily attached to all the letters she'd sent him, plus the picture of the two of them he'd received a few days ago. Severus scowled and closed the lid; he meant to put it back under his bed but decided otherwise and stuffed it in the bottom of his trunk.

Downstairs the twins began screaming. He groaned and counted off with his fingers. "Three…two…one…"

"Severus!" Janice called from the kitchen downstairs.

He sighed. "I'm going!" Severus grabbed a potions book and trotted downstairs and into the living room where the father, Phil, was frantically trying to calm them down.

"I've got it" Severus said, waving his book in the air.

Phil gave a sigh of relief and placed an inconsolable Danny on Severus's lap.

"All right you two stop bawling," he yelled over the infernal crying. "Chapter Twenty-five! Love Potions" he began to read loudly and the crying began to die down.

"Er Severus, why are you reading from a Potion's book?"

"They don't understand a word I'm saying. Might as well study in the process"

The twins began to cry again.

"Carry on then!" Phil yelled over the noise.

"A love potion is a potion that makes it's drinker show the side effects of being in love. However, love cannot be produced in a cauldron so therefore a "Love Potion" is a erroneous term." The twins stopped crying, and looked intently at Severus whom was immersed in what he was reading. "Among the various 'love' potions, Amortentia is the most powerful of all, causing the drinker to become infatuated by whomever's DNA is inside it, such as a hair or a nail. It has very distinct characteristics such as a mother of pearl sheen and spiralling fumes. Most interesting however, is that it possesses a different scent to different people, depending on…" Severus stopped reading as he noticed both Zoey and Danny had fallen asleep. Phil gave him an appreciative look to which Severus answered with a curt nod. He then picked up the slumbering Danny off his lap and placed him in his cradle.

"I'm going to Regulus's house in a few minutes" he whispered.

"Alright, do you need anything?"

He shook his head and went to the kitchen to say goodbye to Janice. She thanked him for all his help with the children and gave him a hug, which he received awkwardly. After summoning his trunk downstairs, Severus stepped into the green-flamed fireplace and spiralled off to number twelve, Grimauld Place.

-O-

Severus emerged from the Black's fireplace lightly covered in soot and was quickly greeted by Regulus.

"Hey Severus! How's it been?"

"Decent" he shrugged and grabbed his trunk.

"Oh no, don't worry…" Regulus turned around and cupped his hand over his mouth and yelled, "Kreacher!"

An old looking House-elf walked into the foyer. "Yes young master?"

"Take Severus's luggage upstairs"

Kreacher eyed Severus beadily and nodded. Severus looked at the ratty old elf oddly.

"Don't mind him" Regulus's voice dropped to a whisper. "He's going senile"

"Thought he already was last time I saw him…"

Regulus laughed as they both started walking towards the backyard.

"Mum's out shopping with my aunt but when she gets back we can eat dinner."

"Okay" Severus said, he didn't really mind since he wasn't hungry.

"Meanwhile, let's fly for a bit, it's boiling today!"

"I'm not much of a flyer… bad experiences with brooms."

"You can't be horridly awful…" Regulus smirked and opened what looked like a tool shed. "Here," he handed him a broomstick; "you can use my old Comet".

"Regulus…" Severus began to protest but he had already kicked off.

"I'll race you!" Regulus yelled.

Severus groaned and mounted his broom "All right, I give up" he kicked off the ground a bit shakily at first and met Regulus in the air.

"Ready…" Regulus began; "…set" Regulus sped off laughing.

"Hey!" Severus darted behind him. "Cheater!"

"I bet I can beat you to that apple tree!"

Severus gripped his broom tightly after it began to sway a bit. "You're on!" he yelled, shooting behind him.

Severus had to begrudgingly admit to himself… flying wasn't as horrible as he remembered it to be. It felt quite liberating actually. He was catching up to Regulus steadily now but he never was able to pass him before reaching the tree.

"You lost Severus" Regulus laughed. "I'm the king of the brooms!" he laughed.

Severus rolled his eyes, picked an apple and wiped it on his shirt.

"You're not a bad flyer you know…"

"Horrible, more like" he smirked.

"No seriously! You're quite decent."

"Er, thanks… I think" Severus bit into his apple.

Regulus smacked him upside the head and sped off yelling, "You're it!"

"Regulus! What are you, four?" Severus yelled after him, laughing.

They spent the next few hours playing tag and playing catch with apples.

-O-

"Master Regulus, Mr. Snape… dinner is served" Old Kreacher announced as he entered Regulus's room.

"Okay, we'll be right down" Regulus replied.

Kreacher turned around and left, muttering to himself.

"I swear… we'll have to decapitate that thing soon" Regulus rolled his eyes as Severus chuckled.

They both went downstairs and into the dining room where Severus spotted Regulus's parents seated.

"Good evening dad, mum" Regulus nodded at each.

"Good evening, Mr. And Mrs. Black, thank you for letting me stay." Severus said curtly.

"It's our pleasure," said Mr. Black.

"How are your uncles?" Mrs. Black inquired as Severus sat down next to Regulus.

Severus looked puzzled for a moment until he remembered his supposed Ukrainian uncle whom owned the Ukrainian Quidditch Team. "Oh! I don't know… I haven't heard from them"

Regulus shot him an apologetic look.

"Oh well, send them our regards."

"Regulus, where is your older brother?" Mrs. Black looked at him accusingly. "I haven't seen him all day" her eyes narrowed.

Regulus gulped. "Er… I umm—

The dining room door opened and Sirius stepped inside. Severus dropped his fork 'Shit!' he thought; 'I forgot the bastard still lived here!'

Sirius eyed Severus with a mix of surprise and disgust.

"What's he doing here?" Sirius pointed.

"Sirius, don't be rude to your brother's guest!" Mr. Black snapped.

"Why the fu—

"Sirius Black where have you been all day!" his mother snapped.

"…At the Potter's" Sirius crossed his arms defiantly.

Regulus cringed.

"How many times have I told you NOT to socialize with those blood traitors!"

"Mum he's my best friend!" Sirius yelled back.

"You are a Black! Black's don't mix with their type!"

"Now dear… remember our guest" Mr. Black tried to calm her down but was blatantly ignored.

"You are not to see that boy again, you hear me?"

"No! I've had it with you mother! You are a bigot!" he spat. "Some of my best friends are muggle-borns! And guess what! I-DON'T-CARE! I'm leaving and I'm not coming back! You hear me! Never!" Sirius stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Sirius Centauri Black you come back here this instant!" Mrs. Black stormed out of the dining room immediately, husband in tow.

Several shouts and crashes were heard from beyond the closed door. Sirius bellowed something unintelligible followed by angered screams from Mrs. Black.

Meanwhile, Regulus and Severus snuck out of the dining room, using Kreacher's passages and locking the door to Regulus's room. Severus sat on his makeshift bed feeling like an intruder. A few minutes after the yelling and crashing subsided, someone tapped on Regulus's windowpane. Sirius was outside on his broomstick, sporting several scratches and bruises. Regulus opened his window.

"Redge, can I borrow some gold?"

"You're really leaving?"

"I can't stand this place anymore, I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron for a few days"

"…"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine" Sirius hesitated, "I'm moving in with the Potter's next week"

"You mean you were planning this?"

"Well… sort of, yeah. I talked to James's parents and told them what was going on here… they offered me a place to stay if things got out of hand; you can come too"

"I can't leave mum and dad alone Sirius"

"All right, I understand… but if you need anything"

Regulus nodded.

"Can you er… guard my stuff before mum blows up my room?"

"I'll owl them to you" Regulus tossed him a bag of gold. "There's about twenty galleons in there"

"Thanks Redge… and thanks for covering for me"

"No problem"

"See you at school then"

"See you…"

"Hey Snivel… Er… I mean, Snape"

Severus looked up.

"Sorry you er… had to see that" Sirius mumbled quickly and sped off.

Severus sat in shock for a while. The evil, cruel, arrogant arse Sirius Black acting civilly and apologizing… to him of all people? There was definitely something wrong with that picture. He glanced over at Regulus; Severus had never actually noticed how close those two were despite the things they did to each other. Regulus looked downright suicidal.

"Regulus…" Severus said tentatively.

"I'm going to bed, see you tomorrow Snape" Regulus said dully and turned off the lights.

To Be Continued…

A/N- Poor Sirius… he's human after all. Well, this chapter was a lot better, six full pages! Now you definitely can't complain today! Anyways, next chapter will include the end of summer, Platform 9 and 3/4 and the beginning of 4th year! Yay!

And just because I feel like it and I haven't done it in a LONG time… here's a…

SNEAK PREVIEW!

Severus heard his fingers cracking painfully and hissed in pain. "Great bloody fucking beginning to a fucking perfect year" he spat, cradling his hand.

Hmm… not much of a preview… but a preview nonetheless! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Have an awesome summer!