Boys Will Be Boys and Men Will Be Men
Sirius flopped down in the chaise lounge with a sigh. Severus sat there staring off into the distance. Sirius didn't speak right away. He was content to take in the scenery before them and listen to the surf crash against the cliffs in the distance. It was a rather peaceful place, he had to admit and it suited his friend perfectly. The ideal blend of quiet solitude and forceful nature that was the man himself. Snape Manor and her grounds were an uncanny reflection of her owner.
"Did you drop in on Albus?" Severus asked after several moments of silence.
"Yes. He seemed pleased with how things were progressing." Sirius replied.
"Did you tell him we're ready to take on Mundy and his group?" Severus enquired.
"I did. In fact, Mundy was there and I went ahead and invited him along." Sirius revealed. "They'll arrive Monday unannounced and 'attack.' It should give us a good idea how well the guys are prepared."
"To say the least." Severus snorted. "I hope they're ready for us!" He added confidently.
"We'll find out." Sirius said, growing silent once more.
"I'll have to make sure everyone has their 'shield' and we'll have to keep them properly dosed with it, unless you know when they're arriving?" Severus remarked.
"They'll arrive after lunch during our afternoon session, so they should be safe." Sirius replied. "Which reminds me, Mundy needs you to brew his team each a batch as well. Better get to it."
"I guess I should." Severus said, rising. "I have to get blood samples and names."
"Names?" Sirius began, "Oh yeah, sorry." He grinned sheepishly.
"I'll see you later. I'm going to get these potions done from the school. After that, I'm going to spend the evening with Juno." Severus told him. "If Siri looks for me, you'll tell him?"
"Sure." Sirius agreed. "The three of them went off to spend the day in London?"
"Yes. They needed to get the Hell out of here, just like the rest of us." He added, leveling a stern look at his friend. Sirius nodded, but made no comment to the rather blunt hint. "See ya." Severus added and he blinked from sight.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky and grew warmer, Sirius relaxed into his chair and raised his face to the warmth. Even though it had been a few years since he was imprisoned, he thought he would never get past the chill from the place. He sighed deeply as the warmth seeped into his bones, and his mind drifted sleepily.
"Hey, Sirius." Remus greeted him quietly a few moments later.
"Hey, Moony." Sirius responded, not opening his eyes.
"Sonya and I are going to Diagon Alley." Remus announced. "Would you care to join us?"
Sirius squinted one blue eye open and leveled it on his friend. "I hardly think you need a fifth-wheel, Moony." He grinned.
"That's not how the situation is and you know it." Remus scoffed
"Yeah and it never will be if you keep dragging strays along with you." Sirius rebuked.
"Sirius…" Remus argued. "We would like you to come along, spend some time at the Leaky Cauldron, relax for a while."
"I don't think so, Remus." Sirius mildly refused.
"Paddy…you need to relax too." Remus pleaded.
"Some other time, okay?" Sirius flatly refused. "I want to just have some peace here for a while."
"I hate to leave you here all alone." Remus admitted. "Everyone else has gone off grounds. You should too."
"Remus, I said 'NO!'" Sirius huffed. "I want to have some peace and quiet. Please go enjoy yourselves and let me get to it!"
Remus nodded, knowing he was not going to convince him to come along with them.
"Okay, if you're sure, then I guess I'll see you later." Remus replied quietly.
"Moony, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." Sirius apologized softly. "I'm just used to being alone after all these years and that's what I need right now. Don't take it personally, alright?"
"Sure, Paddy." He smiled briefly.
"Go enjoy your evening." Sirius grinned wolfishly. "Tell me all about it when you get home!"
"Short story!" Remus laughed as he turned to seek Sonya out.
Remus and Sonya spent a fair amount of their time in Flourish and Blotts. Remus was looking for anything he could find dealing with Lycanthropy. He found several ancient and dusty volumes, as well as a slim new release covering modern methods of controlling the affliction. This interested him, but the chapter dealing with new discoveries and research captured his attention the most.
"Do you think a cure will ever be found, Remus?" Sonya asked softly as she read over his shoulder.
"I'm sure of it." He declared quietly. "I have to believe it." He added staring intently at her. She smiled softly and nodded.
"I wish it for you." She admitted, placing her hand on his arm. He covered her hand with his.
"Thank you, Sonya." He said softly. "Severus has been doing research whenever he can for years, you know? He has made a little progress, but there's a long way to go."
"Does he feel he's on the right track?" She asked as he paid for his purchases.
"Yes. He has isolated a few of the genetic strands so far." Remus replied, a note of excitement in his voice.
They stepped into the street and made their way back toward the Leaky Cauldron.
"I understand his wanting to separate the genetic strands and identify the codes." She replied. "What is he hoping to do with it?"
"Well, he thinks that once he has it all separated and coded, he can then begin testing each one until he discovers just which one causes the reaction." Remus voice grew more excited as he got into the subject.
"So, once he isolates the one that causes the reaction…" Sonya was caught up in the excitement as well.
"…he can then figure out how to modify it, destroy it, whatever!" Remus finished her thought, his eyes dancing with anticipation.
"Oh Remus!" Sonya grabbed his hand. "That would be so wonderful for you! For anyone who suffers this way!"
"Not to mention the benefit to Sev." Remus grew a little somber. "He has missed so much, Sonya. It isn't fair."
"What do you mean?" Sonya asked.
"He has been key to so many positive things over the years, but because of his association with Voldemort, he has not been recognized for any of it. It's the price he paid to spy for the Light He has sacrificed so much for the Light and no one but his closest friends and family will ever know." He told her sadly.
"That's awful!" Sonya cried. "I've gotten to know him very well, I think, and I know he is a very brave man. I don't think I have ever met anyone who is more principled or dedicated. This happiness he's found with Siri has been the best that could happen to him. But he should be recognized for his sacrifices."
"I also think he deserves to be recognized for his efforts in the war against Voldemort." Remus said bluntly. "It can't happen, however, until Voldemort's defeated and the whole truth can come out."
"He'll get his day, Remus." Sonya declared. "We can see to it."
"No!" Remus exclaimed. "He wouldn't appreciate any of us publicly singing his praises. That's not Sev….definitely not Sev!" He laughed quietly.
"Oh yeah. One of those." She acknowledged with a grin as she sat in the chair he had pulled out for her.
"One of those, indeed." He agreed as he sat across from her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The flippers flew as Siri's fingers worked the buttons on the arcade game. Ron and Draco watched in fascination as the numbers soared higher and higher in the score box. A crowd similar to before was gathering, but Siri paid no attention to them. His friends eyed them nervously several times, but relaxed when Siri said, "I'm okay, guys." without taking his eyes from the game.
"This is fan-bloody-tastic, Siri!" Ron exclaimed, awestruck.
"It's obvious he's a Seeker." Draco laughed.
"You ought to try it, Dray!" Siri told him, grinning briefly. "The machine next to me is free. I challenge you to keep up!"
"You're on!" Draco took the challenge. "Highest score wins, lowest buys dinner all around!" He announced.
"You've got yourself a bet!" Siri agreed, resetting his game.
Ron stepped back to enjoy the game, happy that either way, he had a free meal out of it.
"First to crash, ends the game!" Siri said, excited with the challenge. The 'battle' went on for a very long time. The scores climbed higher than the tickers reached and they rolled over and began again. Ron checked his watch several times and the crowd grew. The teen that shared Siri's earlier 'encounter' was there and recognized Siri right away.
"Hey, I remember him!" He announced to those around him. "He and I were zapped by one of these a while back. He had a Helluva score on that day too! Hey, man! Rack 'em up!" He cheered at Siri.
Siri nodded acknowledgement to the teen, never breaking his concentration. Draco was grinning like a fool. He really was getting into this game!
"Come on, Siri!" He taunted. "Give it up, you know I'll hold out longer than you!"
"Hell you will, Dray!" Siri snickered. "I bet you don't last for more than five minutes."
"You're on! A galleon?" Draco said.
"A galleon." Siri agreed. "Ron, time us for five minutes starting now!" Ron watched as the minutes ticked by. Five seconds before time was up, Draco's fingers slipped and his ball fell between the flippers, ending the game.
"Blast!" He growled and Siri grinned wickedly. "You did that, didn't you?" Draco accused, grinning back.
"Of course!" Siri admitted. "You never said we couldn't play dirty!"
"Rather Slytherin of you, Siri!" Draco laughed. "Okay, dinner's on me!"
"Cool!" Ron exclaimed. "I'm starved!"
So what else is new?" Draco snorted.
Siri led them to the food court and they filled up on pizza, burgers and a whole assortment of fast food. After finally getting enough to eat, they converged on the mall again.
"Hey guys, I want to do something." Siri announced. "Come with me."
"What are you going to do?" Ron asked.
"I'm getting my ear pierced." Siri declared. "I've always thought Bill's was cool. I almost had it done the last time I was here, but I backed down."
"You sure you want to?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, Siri." Draco added. "That's permanent, you know."
"I know." Siri acknowledged. "But I want one, so I'm getting one." He added as he stepped into the jewelry store. He spent nearly half an hour checking out different earrings. He really liked the fang that Bill wore, so he chose one of those. He also settled on a small dagger-shaped one and another which looked like a tiny gold phoenix. He chose a plain gold ball as a starter piece. By the time they left just over an hour later, Draco had decided to pierce an ear too. He chose silver pieces, a small ball for a starter, a small hoop, a dagger similar to Siri's and a coiled snake with a speck of a ruby for an eye. Ron, not one for jewelry of any kind, couldn't be persuaded to join in. After their stop in the jewelry store, they did a little more shopping, buying mostly clothes. None of them could resist buying a cd player and some music. They bought a large cache of batteries as the manor had no modern electricity. Ron and Dray were really excited about the players and Siri showed them how they worked. They finished their shopping and took in a movie. Afterward, they apparated to the Leaky Cauldron for a late dinner and a few pints. It was early morning when they staggered onto the grounds of the manor. They noisily stumbled their way inside, snickering loudly and shushing each other with their hands over their mouths. They never noticed the three adults watching from Severus's sitting room doorway with huge grins on their faces. It was good to see the young men having the fun people their age should be having.
"I can't wait until morning!" Sirius announced with a wicked grin on his face.
"You wouldn't." Severus said.
"He would." Remus smirked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sirius tiptoed past the three bedrooms on his way to the door leading to the South Tower. Snickering maliciously, he removed one of the cymbals from its stand and grabbed a drumstick.
'This is going to be immensely enjoyable.' He thought as he made his way back to the main hallway.
He quietly opened Draco's door. The teen lay sprawled across his bed, still fully dressed from the night before. Sirius shut the door and crossed the room.
Draco shot straight up as soon as Sirius snapped the cymbal with the stick.
"What? Oh my head!" Draco moaned as he covered his ears. He looked at Sirius with a pained expression.
"Good morning!" Sirius said cheerily.
"Go away, Sirius." Draco groaned as he flopped back on his bed and pulled his pillow over his head.
"Oh no you don't!" Sirius grabbed his cloak and hauled him up. "We have work to do! Time to get up and at 'em!"
"Sirius! It's Sunday!" Draco whined.
"I know it." Sirius acknowledged. "I expect you dressed, ready and downstairs in fifteen minutes!" He said, swatting the teen on the backside.
"Okay." Draco growled as he crawled off the bed and stumbled toward his bathroom.
Ron was next on Sirius' wake up list. As the cymbal crashed over his head, Ron rolled over and mumbled, "Okay, Mum! I'm up!" He tossed his blankets aside, still managing to get his feet tangled in them. He fell on the floor with a loud thud and noticed Sirius standing over him with a delighted twinkle in his eyes.
"Good morning, Ron!" He greeted the red-haired teen. "Up and at 'em!"
"I'm coming." Ron muttered as he too headed for his bathroom. "Oh my head!" He wailed as he shut the door. Sirius left after leaving him with instructions to be downstairs in fifteen minutes as well.
He tiptoed across the hall to Siri's door. As he reached out for the knob, the door flew open and he stood eye to eye with his Godson.
"Good morning, Sirius." Siri greeted him, eyeing the cymbal and drumstick. "Up to something, are you?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow in wry humor.
"No." Sirius grinned sheepishly. "Just wake up calls."
"I see." Siri smirked, a twinkle in his bright green eyes. "You missed waking me up by about forty-five minutes."
"I guess so." Sirius agreed. "Downstairs ~ fifteen minutes. We have things to discuss."
"I'm going down now." Siri informed him. "Join me?"
"Sure." Sirius said as he placed the cymbal and stick on a side table in the main corridor.
"What sort of things did you want to discuss?" Siri asked, curiously.
"Well, basically, our upcoming skirmishes with Mundy's team." Sirius admitted. "I would imagine it to be soon."
"True. It has been two weeks." Siri agreed.
Over brunch, they discussed how the upcoming skirmish would go. Sirius told them that the group would arrive unannounced, but didn't reveal that he knew basically just when that would be. It would be an evenly matched battle, three adults and three trainees to a team.
"Also, tomorrow, I'm going to the Ministry and get the permits for your animagus training." Remus announced.
"That reminds me," Severus broke in, "I have found a few books on the subject. They're in the study. I want you all to read them."
"Yes, sir." Draco agreed at once and Siri and Ron agreed shortly thereafter.
"When will we start working on that?" Ron piped up.
"Right after breakfast on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Sirius announced. "The other three days you have to work on spell-casting while on the run in order to sharpen your accuracy. Doesn't do much good to cast a spell if you can't hit a moving target! I also want you all sharpening your surveillance skills. None of you is up to snuff on being aware of what's going on around you."
"Do you still want the obstacle course set up on the 'out grounds'?" Severus asked.
"Yes, I do, Sev." Sirius confirmed. "I want trees, rock formations and facades. These guys need to practice being inconspicuous and they need to work on observing how shadows can play tricks on you or give away your opponent."
"Got it." Severus nodded acknowledgement. "Remus, care to help me set that up?"
"Be glad to." Remus agreed happily.
"The four of us," Sirius indicated himself and the three teens, "are going to skirmish out back."
"What weapons?" Siri asked.
"All of them. Go suit up and dose yourselves and we'll get started." He ordered.
"Yes, sir." They all replied and headed off to prepare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How will we set this up, Sev?" Remus asked a short while later.
"Well, I pictured a scene somewhat like Hogsmeade, with the main business section leading out to residential and eventually rural." Severus told him, his arms sweeping out in expression as if placing the structures there while he spoke. "I know we don't have a great amount of room, but we can conjure a few basics, I think."
"We should have at least a church with a bell tower or maybe a city hall with a clock tower." Remus suggested.
"I thought that too. Not knowing where this will pan out is a small wrinkle, but I feel we will be in a more civilized setting rather than natural." Severus offered up his opinion.
"We still should have some of that." Remus argued.
"I agree. I wasn't suggesting to toss the idea aside." Severus clarified. "How about this? Over by the stables, let's add a clock tower, a general store and a couple of other buildings to represent our 'town'. By the North Garden we'll create our 'forest' setting. I want trees, rocks, underbrush, mucky areas, a stream and the like." Remus nodded his understanding as Severus continued with his idea.
"Against the far wall along the cliff to the north, we'll have some rough terrain, rock formations, a cave, perhaps for the enemy to hide in or provide shelter for our guys if they need it.. Make sure to secure the cliffside, we don't want any accidental deaths. Ward it to prevent falls."
"This'll work well for our purposes." Remus acknowledged. "I like the forest setting. It'll work for our skirmishes with Mundy's group."
"That was my plan." Severus nodded.
"Well, I guess we should get to it then." Remus declared, drawing his wand and heading toward the stables. Severus took care of the cliffside setting and the two of them shared duty for the forest setting.
"Resembles the Forbidden Forest." Remus remarked as they admired their handiwork.
"I was hoping it would." Severus replied. "I want them to have some familiar terrain, just in case. I've been thinking about the fight on our hands." He mused. "You know, it's very possible Voldemort will attack the school in order to lure us back there."
"I know, I've thought of it too." Remus acknowledged. "He could attack any number of places. There's the school, the Ministry, here at the Manor, even right in the heart of London!"
"True." Severus agreed.
"Severus, I know you don't like the idea of this," Remus began hesitantly. "But maybe Siri should allow this link with Voldemort."
"What are you getting at Remus?" Severus queried. "It's dangerous to us and especially to Siri. You know he's been in great pain every time this has happened."
"I know, but think!" Remus pressed, urgently wanting to make his point. " Siri said he communicated directly with Voldemort through this link. What if Siri could work on fine tuning it a bit and he is able to learn what Voldemort is planning without tipping him off to it? We would be better prepared, save lives even!"
"I don't know, Moony." Severus hedged, a nervous catch in his voice. "I'd hate for it to backfire. Siri could be seriously hurt."
"Just think about it, Sev." Remus encouraged. "I think that we should honestly consider it. Siri is able to break the link easily enough. If it got too bad for him, he could just stop."
"Remy, you know my son as well as the rest of us." Severus said reprovingly. "No matter his personal 'discomfort', he won't quit if he thinks there's more to be gained."
"Consequences be damned." Remus concurred.
"Quite." Severus bit back. "Bloody Gryffindor sense of responsibility."
"You say that as if it's a bad thing." Remus smiled.
Severus' sharp eyes pierced him with a glance that assured him that he saw nothing to smile about and Remus' smile faded.
"I know you don't like the idea at all, Sev, and I don't like it either." Remus added quietly. "But you said it yourself; this is war. We do what we must because it's the right choice. Maybe allowing Siri to do this is the right choice."
"You may be right, Remus." Severus sighed wearily. "But the thought of all the possibilities, the thought of losing him after just getting him back, scares the Hell out of me."
"I understand." Remus said softly as he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "All I ask is to think about it as objectively as possible and then let Siri make the choice for himself."
The gentle reminder slapped him right between the eyes. 'He was doing it again!' Making Siri's choices for him! As realization dawned on his features, Remus smiled.
"I was nearly guilty of doing it again!" Severus exclaimed. "You're right, Remus, it's time to allow my son to be a man. He's capable of choosing what's right for himself. It may not be the choice I want. It may scare the Hell out of me. It may scare the Hell out of him. But it has to be his choice!"
"Now you've got it, mate." Remus nodded. "Not easy to do, but it's time."
Severus nodded and took a deep breath. "I need to have a talk with my son." He declared as he headed back across the grounds to the house. Remus watched him walk away for a moment before hurrying to catch up. Seeing the struggle his friend faced in letting go of his son, made him almost glad he never had children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sirius?" Severus called as he rounded the side of the house to where the four were skirmishing.
"What's up, Sev?" He asked as he held up a hand to stop the swordplay.
"I need to drag Siri away for a bit." He said as Sirius joined him. "I have to discuss this link he forms with Voldemort."
Sirius stared intently into Severus' eyes. "You sure about this, Shadow?"
"No, I'm not sure of anything. But Siri has a choice to make and I need to talk with him about it." Sirius nodded his understanding.
"Siri!" Severus called to him.
"Yes, sir?" Siri answered.
"Come with me son, we need to talk." Severus told him quietly.
"What about?" Siri asked as he stepped over to meet his father.
"Let's go inside first, all right?" Severus requested. Siri nodded and followed him inside.
"How do you feel about this link you are able to form with Voldemort?" Severus asked after they had settled into the large leather chairs in front of the fireplace in the study.
"What do you mean?" Siri hedged.
"Do you feel it is an advantage or a disadvantage?" Severus clarified. Siri thought about the question. It was unexpected and he was unprepared for it.
"I think it has merit on either side." Siri acknowledged. "I know that on the plus side, we could learn so much of what he is planning and we could prepare for it. There is no doubt."
"And on the other?" Severus was curious to hear what he would say.
"On the other, if he figures out what I am doing, and how I am doing it, he could turn the tables on us." Siri replied.
"Do you think the possibility of that happening is enough reason not to try it?" Severus asked quietly.
"What are you saying, Dad?" Siri asked, guardedly.
"I want to know what you think you should do." Severus said nervously. He waited, holding his breath, for the answer. The part of him that was sure of his son, knew already what the answer would be and he felt a part of him begin to panic as his fears fought to overtake him.
"You know what I think already. I can tell by the way you're sitting there." Siri smiled sadly. "You know that I think this would be worth any of the risks. Think of the lives it could save, Da!" He pleaded. Severus's head jerked at the affectionate title.
"I'm against you doing this." Severus confessed. "I don't think anything is worth the pain it would cause you to do this or the danger you could be putting yourself in."
"I know, but…" Siri paused as Severus raised his hand.
"Let me finish, Siri. I want to say that, even though I am against this, I know what benefit it could bring. It would really go a long way toward defeating this bastard. It scares me, the danger you would be putting yourself in. It scares the Hell out of me!" He paused and swallowed hard. "I want you to do what you think is the right thing for you. If you think that you really should do this, then I will support your decision. I want you to choose for yourself." He finished in a hushed voice, choked with emotion. He never dreamed this moment would be so hard. 'Hell! He never dreamed this moment would ever be his to experience!'
Siri sat for several long moments, watching his father and the play of emotions on his face. "Da." He called softly. When Severus looked at him, he continued, "I think I should at least try. It may make all the difference in the world! I don't see how we can't try it."
Severus nodded his understanding, "Okay, son. I will stand by you. When do you want to try it?"
"I'm a bit tired today, so I think that wouldn't be wise. He might be able to take over control if I'm not up to snuff." Siri confessed. "I think I will try it in a few days, one of our off days from animagus training."
"I think that is a good idea." Severus agreed readily. "First thing in the morning, after a good night's rest, sounds like a solid place to start."
"Not tomorrow." Siri announced. "I'm not ready yet, but maybe Wednesday?"
"Fine." Severus agreed. "How do you want to approach this? Do you want to be alone? Do you want to have just one of us with you or all of us?"
"I want you and Mum with me." Siri said. "If she can be here, of course."
"Why Juno?" Severus questioned, confused about the reason for the request.
"Don't go freaking out or anything on me," Siri hesitated. "but if something bad happens, I want my parents with me."
"Something bad?" Severus began.
"Yes, I don't know what to expect and I'm afraid once this happens, he might figure it out right away." Siri rushed to explain. "And if he does get the upper hand and I can't break away, he might kill me." Swallowing hard, he added, "If that happens, I want my parents with me."
Severus' heart plummeted to his feet and bounced right back up into his throat at the quietly spoken words. Nodding, unable to speak, he rose to his feet and turned to the fire. He stared into the flames, while Siri watched him quietly from his chair. He felt he should say something to get the look of pure fear off his father's face.
"Da." Siri whispered, rising to stand beside Severus. "I have to think this is going to work and so do you. We all do."
"I know we do, son." Severus acknowledged, turning to face his son. "It doesn't help knowing it, when it is my child who so willingly chooses to make the effort and possibly make the ultimate sacrifice."
"I love you, Da." Siri whispered, barely breathing, he was so moved. Severus grabbed Siri and crushed him to his chest and never wanted to let go.
"I love you, Siri." Severus choked over the sob that burst from his chest. The two of them stood there for the longest time; neither saying a word, neither moving away, arms wrapped tightly around each other. Severus stepped away and slapped Siri on the back.
"Well, we settled that I guess." Severus said, drawing a deep breath that served to settle his frayed nerves just a bit.
"I know you're upset, but I promise you, I will be very careful when I do this. I will back off at the first sign of any trouble." Siri vowed.
"Thank you. I feel a little better knowing that you won't be reckless with this." Severus confessed.
"Me? Reckless?" Siri grinned. "Never!"
"Prat!" His father swatted his backside as he tried to escape unscathed, both of them grinned with obvious relief.