Sky of Blood and Gold
Rating: Explicit
Content/Warnings: Soulmates; Bonding; Sharing a Bed; Fae Severus Snape; Creature Inheritance; Royal Prince Severus Snape; Post-War; Biting; Marking; Top Severus Snape; Bottom Harry Potter; Telepathic Bond; Accidental Thought Projection; Brief mentions of PTSD, past abuse, slavery, and torture; Worldbuilding; Magical Theory; Original Male Characters; Original Non-Binary Character; Original Female Characters; Enemies to Friends to Lovers; Games; Falling In Love; Forced Cohabitation; Sexual Tension; Resolved Sexual Tension; First Time; Magically Powerful Harry Potter; Humor; Romance; Slow Burn; Fluff; Light Angst; Happy Ending; Severus Snape Can't Lie; Pining; Virgin Harry Potter; Banter
A/N: Thank you, MyFirstistheFourth, so much for the inspiration! I definitely ran with it. (Although sometimes it felt like it ran over me. lol.) Hugs to you! Mods, you have my sincerest thanks for hosting this fest over the years. It's been a highlight for me, and I will miss it. Written for Secret Snarry Swap 2022. Harry is eighteen years old in this AU.
Cross-posted on AO3. Cover art can be viewed on AO3.
Prompter/Prompt: No. 20 from myfirstisfourth: Tobias Snape was Not Severus' real father. This secret had been hidden from Severus and the world by his mother for Reasons. While Severus believed he would die from Nagini's bite, he instead awoke to a new reality. Harry is there when it happens. Fae Severus/Wizard Harry, Severus' father, the Fae Courts, and Any interactions thereof—ALL UP TO YOU.
Full Summary: A transformed Severus wakes up to his estranged mother and Harry Potter sitting beside his hospital bed. His mother unceremoniously informs him that Tobias Snape isn't his biological father and that he is actually of fae descent.
While still reeling from what his mother revealed, Severus realises he owes yet another Potter a life debt. Wanting to be rid of it as quickly as possible, he unwittingly grants Harry a wish that goes awry.
Having to hear every one of Harry's thoughts, Harry able to listen to all of his, and as a fae, not being able to lie: Severus goes on to learn many things he didn't expect.
Chapter One: Prologue
Spinster: That was what they called her.
Twenty-nine years old and not a suitor in sight for Eileen Prince. The well of interested bachelors had dried up a decade ago.
Not that she was trying.
Eileen would rather spend time collecting ingredients and experimenting in her laboratory than tediously playing the blushing maiden. She was waiting for her true match. Her heart was set on it. And as a Prince, she would settle for nothing less.
However, Eileen wasn't naïve; she understood a fleet of ships would never launch on her behalf. Neither beauty nor charm was hers to claim. But with all her being, she knew—Eileen gazed into the distance of the dim forest—somewhere, her soulmate waited for her, too.
Sighing, she snipped another clipping of Mothbloom. As she placed it in her basket, her stomach rumbled. Eileen grimaced. She had left to forage before dawn and hadn't eaten since yesterday. Fortunately, all that remained on her list was a sprouted bulb of Hiddenheart, and finding one wouldn't be difficult during mid-spring. Eileen couldn't wait until she returned to the manor and could finally have some break—
CLANG!
Jumping in startlement, she heard a fierce, pained and angry shout.
Eileen set down her basket and clippers. After casting a Noise-Suppressing Charm on her boots, she crept towards the sound of foreign exclamations and grunts.
Hidden behind a walnut tree, she peeked ahead.
From his voice, Eileen already knew she would find a man. He sat facing away. His thick black hair twisted into one long plait had started to come undone. His odd attire made him stand out like a bright blossom on the forest floor. He wore white armour of some sort; it clearly radiated with magic, but she couldn't identify the material. Intricate gold embroidery covered its surface, as did copious amounts of blood. The man also had a scabbard at his hip, but no weapon was in sight.
Cautiously, she left the protection of the tree and approached him. With all the blood, Eileen expected to smell a metallic scent but didn't.
She understood why the moment she caught sight of his face.
Eileen gasped, taking in his uncanny eyes and attractiveness. Hidden among strands of hair, she also spotted the tips of pointed ears.
She knew exactly what he was: A sídhe, one of the noble Fair Folk.
The sídhe shifted, and Eileen heard a jingling. Looking closer, she discovered that his right foot had been captured by one of Father's steel traps, a preventative measure for any werewolves tonight.
He held up a hand in a beseeching manner. Burns from attempting to free himself marred his palm.
"Kind lady," he said, softly smiling, his voice deep and seductive, "I am caught. Would you release me?"
Eileen stepped forwards, then stopped a thought coming to mind: The Fair Folk were known for granting favours.
"I'll help you…" she said, "but in return, I want a wish." She quickly added: "And for you not to harm me."
His smile turned sly, and he nodded. "As you say."
Warily, Eileen tapped the trap's jaws with her wand, and they sprang open. She swiftly moved a few paces away.
With a grunt, the sídhe lifted his foot from the trap. He slowly stood to his formidable height, took two steps towards her, then lost his balance and fell onto his knees. Groaning, he sat down hard on his bum.
"Gamóc!" he hissed what sounded like an expletive and shut his eyes.
Now that he had moved, the extent of his blood loss became apparent; soil, moss, and dead leaves were saturated with gleaming red.
As the sídhe breathed rapidly, he languidly blinked, his face covered in a sweaty sheen. Suddenly, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed.
Eileen scrambled to his side and for the emergency potions at her waist. She had Essence of Dittany and Blood-Replenishing Potion, but by the looks of him, not nearly enough.
She administered what she had. Then, twisting in place, she Apparated onto the manor's entry steps.
After racing inside, Eileen Apparated again, arriving outside the entrance of her lab. She rushed to her stores and grabbed what she needed before returning.
The sídhe was still unconscious, which was good; it would make what she had to do next easier.
Eileen tried to Vanish his armour but found she couldn't. Checking him for curses and finding none, she removed his damaged armour by hand, piece by piece.
She blushed, seeing his bare body. She, of course, had seen men naked before, but never had she seen one with such…talents.
His most serious injuries were on his front, so that was where Eileen started. She applied more Dittany and cotton strips, better healing the myriad of slashes and deep stab wounds. To be safe, she also gave him Antipyemia Elixir to prevent the possibility of blood poisoning.
When she had just flipped him over after finishing his back, the sídhe awoke and immediately sat up.
He frowned, feeling his bandaged sides, then beamed at her. A second later, the dressings on his body unexpectedly disappeared, revealing perfect skin.
He gently cupped her face. Eileen's heart nearly leapt out of her throat, also wanting to be touched.
The sídhe peered into her black eyes. "Hmm." He stroked her cheekbone with a thumb. "The proof of past delights can forever be found in the doorways to the soul."
He released her face. "Dear lady, it is time for us to settle our agreement. What is it you want? Do you wish for beauty that can ensnare any mortal? The rarest of potion ingredients? Perhaps an enemy's excruciating demise?"
Eileen inhaled deeply. While treating him, she had considered such questions, but deciding on her final answer had been easy.
"Today," she said confidently, "I wish to find my heart's desire."
"Your heart's desire…" The sídhe wickedly grinned. "Then we shall start with me."
Eileen looked at him in confusion. "You?"
"Do you not desire me?" He kissed the inside of her wrist, and she flushed.
"Yes, but—"
"Do not fret," the sídhe said, deftly undoing her potions belt. "All your heart's desires will be granted until tonight's moon rises." He chuckled. "And the day has barely begun."
Tobias Snape stared in disbelief at the unconscious woman, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. She smelt of expensive perfume like the well-off wore around Wilmslow. The street lamp above illuminated her sharp features with a warm golden glow. He thought she looked enchanting. Tobias couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her pulled at him.
He knelt beside her, then patted the top of her hand. "Miss, you alright?" he said with a thick Mancunian accent.
The woman stirred. Smiling, she opened her eyes. But once she saw him, she jerked and gasped.
Gently squeezing her fingers, Tobias asked, "Luv, has owt happened to you? Do I need to ring the dibble?"
Wide-eyed, the woman stared at where he touched her with increasing wonder. "Oh…" she breathed, lifting her gaze to his. "No. I…I don't believe so," she answered, her voice quite posh.
He chuckled. "You're far from home, aren't you, luv?"
She reddened prettily.
"I'm Tobias. Do you have a name?"
Sitting up, she said, "I'm Eileen."
"Eileen," he repeated, then grinned. "A beautiful name."
A small smile lifted her lips. "Thank you."
"Come on. Let's get you off this rank pavement."
Grunting, he stood, helping her up as well.
Even in her dark billowing dress, he could tell she was a slip of a thing, her wrists thin and delicate. He'd never seen skin as perfect as hers, not one blemish or freckle in sight. Though she could use more sun.
"My, you look like a boggart, so pale I can almost see right through you. You're in need of a proper sound brew; if not, I'm afraid you'll float away to heaven."
Eileen frowned. "Brew?"
Her stomach growled loudly, and she grimaced in embarrassment.
Tobias chortled. "And maybe, along with tea, sunket like a butty."
"Buh-y?" Eileen said stiltedly.
"You know, scran…food. My flat isn't dodgy. You'll be safe there until we get you sorted."
"Yes…" She looked at him shyly. "That would be lovely. Thank you…Tobias."
Grinning, he shook his head. "It's nowt, luv, helping a bonny lady, such as yourself."
As they started to walk, he placed a hand on her back, wanting to be closer to her. "Maybe, on the way, you can tell me how you came to be passed out in Cokeworth."
With a guileful look, she nodded. "Perhaps…"
The fateful evening Tobias and Eileen met was clear and lit by a brilliant full moon, the kind of night those from different worlds could easily fall in love.
Severus Snape was born nine months later.