Chapter 3 – A Good Start

He could feel the build-up to what he was could tell be a rather wonderful orgasm and reached around to grasp his lover's cock, pleading with his prick to just wait a few moments until he could bring Oz off first.

Yes! He luxuriated in the feel of Oz's internal muscles clenching around him and managed one more thrust before spilling himself and collapsing, breathless.

He was still shuddering a bit when he heard Oz's, "Cameron?" between pants.

"Yeah?" This was about the time one or the other of them (depending on whose bed they'd ended up in this time) gathered his clothes and said 'until next time'.

"Cam, I met someone."

He turned to face Oz. "Really?" It occurred to him that perhaps he should be upset, but he wasn't. It wasn't as if they really had a relationship or anything, even after four months of fucking.

"Yeah."

"What's his name?"

"Corvus Mallone. He's in my Shielding Theory class."

It was surprisingly comfortable to lay there in post-coital lassitude and discuss his lover's crush. "I think I've met him—does he have sort of sandy-colored hair?"

"Yep. Isn't his hair great? And he has this wonderful smile that does ridiculous things to my insides," Oz said with a grin.

"Wow, you've got it bad. Does he know?"

"I'm not sure. He agreed to meet at the pub this Friday, but I couldn't tell if he knew it was a date or not."

"Don't worry, I'm sure it'll go great. I take it this means I won't be seeing you again?"

"Yeah, I think so. Nothing personal, I'm not going to see Nathan or Simon again either."

"Whoa, Oswald Cucurbita is giving up all his fuck buddies? Are you sure he doesn't have you under some kind of spell, or a potion maybe?" Cameron joked.

"Shut up, Cam. I know it's a totally foreign sensation to me, but somehow it just seems like it would be wrong," Oz explained, seeming almost embarrassed about it.

Cameron laughed. "Don't worry, Oz, I promise I'll always think you're a jerk."

"Thanks, that means a lot," Oz shot back and starting gathering his clothing. "Seriously, though, we should still be friends if you're comfortable with it."

"Yeah, that'd be great. I'll see you in class on Tuesday?"

"Sure, see you Tuesday."

While he mourned for his libido as he watched Oz leave, he couldn't help but be happy for the man.

XXX

Knowing that, if everything went as planned, he was about to be thrust into the presence of some very unsavory folk whom he'd rather not having rummaging around in his head, he had decided Occlumency lessons were in order.

He was amazed that after only a few weeks, he was making great progress. He had thrice weekly private lessons with Asphodel Whitt, Mistress of Mind Magics at the University. As she did this kind of thing all the time, they'd each signed her standard contract that kept anything learned in their lessons from being shared with any other parties.

And, for a sizable but not completely unreasonable additional fee, he'd got her to agree to Obliviation of anything they gleaned from the other's mind in the course of their lessons when they were over.

Mistress Whitt seemed convinced that he would be sufficiently proficient within another two weeks, so he went ahead and placed his advert.

He'd decided on the Journal of Magical Artifacts for his advertisement, as he'd noticed at least two articles published by Orion Black in it and figured it was a good bet he read it regularly. He tried to word it so it seemed like he was the perfect answer to their problem, mentioning OWLs and NEWTs and kids who weren't living up to their potential. He'd also decided to state his fee as an amount almost double the going rate for private tutors, knowing the Blacks could well afford it and hoping they would assume it meant he was worth it.

He was especially glad of charging so much when he started getting responses, as they were few. After turning down four others with the explanation that his schedule was already full, re received the owl he'd been waiting for.

He forced himself to wait two full days before responding so he didn't make Black suspicious by seeming overeager.

So it happened that the first Monday after the Hogwarts school year ended, he had an appointment with the scion of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. He'd tried to suggest to Black that they meet at a neutral location, but he insisted on hosting his son's lessons in the family home. He had no desire to set foot inside 12 Grimmauld Place, but he was hoping that after a three years the memories would not be too painful.

After presenting himself at the front door, he was shown to the library by a brusque but formal Orion Black.

"I present my son, Regulus. Regulus, meet Mr. Sage. You are to follow his instructions to the letter and apply yourself to your studies. We've discussed the consequences if you should continue with your pathetic performance in this subject—I trust I do not need to remind you of them?"

Regulus scowled, but answered, "No, sir."

"Good. Get to work, then," Black said, and spun to leave the room at a brisk pace.

Cameron was glad to see the teenager slouched in his chair did not bear an overwhelming appearance to his brother. They had the same eyes, but Regulus was much smaller and had a narrower face, which seemed to sport a constant scowl.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Black," Cameron offered.

"Whatever," replied Regulus, crossing his arms over his chest and kicking at the rug under his chair.

Well. This was going to be an utter joy, he could tell.

XXX

"This is stupid."

"I did not ask for your opinion on the matter, and I'll thank you not to share it. I expected you to have this spell mastered at our last lesson and you have yet to show any progress." Cameron forced himself to stop before he said something nasty. There was no way he'd been this petulant at seventeen, was there?

"Can you tell me why you're having such a problem with this? Did you practice it like I said?"

Regulus kicked at the rug.

"You didn't, did you?"

The teen's scowl increased. "I didn't feel like it."

Cameron sighed. "Am I going to have to resort to the Imperius Curse to get you to do your homework?"

At that moment, he sensed someone entering the library. After two months of twice weekly lessons, he no longer worried about keeping the entrance to the room in view so he couldn't see who was there. He did, however, know that he couldn't sense the magical signature of Orion or Walburga Black.

Mere seconds after first sensing the newcomer, he had him pinned to the ground, his knees straddling the thin chest, his left forearm against the pale throat, and his wand pressed between startled eyes.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "State your business."

"In the name of the Founders, Sage, it's just Severus. Let him up, why don't you?" Regulus whinged.

Cameron blinked. Severus? As in, Severus Snape? He looked closer. Great Merlin, it really was him.

"That's Mister Sage to you, Mr. Black. I said state your business." As far as he knew, Snape was still loyal the Infernal Menace at that point, and though he lessened the pressure against his throat, he wasn't about to let his guard down.

"I—I'm sorry, I just…I—"

Wow. This was by far the most discomfited he'd ever seen Severus Snape. Even at nineteen, he seemed fairly good at schooling his sharp features into a mask of indifference, but if Cameron didn't know any better he'd say Snape almost looked scared. And that was positively ridiculous. Wasn't it?

"I simply dropped by f-for tea," Snape explained.

Regulus' face lit up (first time Cameron had seen him do anything other than scowl, actually), and asked, "Really? With me?"

Cameron saw the fetal stages of a smile warring with the alarm on Snape's face. "Yes, with you."

"Great!"

"Please remember that your lesson is not over until five o'clock, Mr. Black," Cameron reminded him, as it was only a bit after four. Snape seemed sincere enough about just stopping by to visit with his student (though he couldn't imagine why, annoying twit that he was), so Cameron let him up.

Snape massaged his throat and sat up slowly, as if he was worried Cameron might attack him again at any moment.

Cameron held out a hand and helped him to his feet.

"My apologies, Mr. Snape," he said, and immediately gave himself a mental kick. He didn't think anyone had mentioned Snape's surname, but luckily they didn't seem to notice.

"I should not have startled you. You have rather…aggressive reflexes, Mr…what was it?"

"Sage. Cameron Sage."

"Ah. Mr. Sage. Er, pleased to meet you, I suppose. You're the tutor Reg mentioned?"

"I am. Though, thus far, it seems to have been an entirely fruitless endeavor." Even if it was only by a year, it was downright weird being older than Snape. He hoped it wasn't showing.

"Is that so?" Snape said, raising his eyebrow at Regulus. "I know as well as anyone that your DADA scores could stand some improvement. You should be taking advantage of Mr. Sage's help while you can."

Regulus' smile faltered. "Well, I…I mean, I'm trying…"

Cameron followed their conversation with half an ear, trying to work out their relationship. Were they friends? Lovers? Perhaps toeing the line in between? Or was Snape just here to check on him for Snakeface and Regulus was pleased to be considered important enough for the attention?

"Can you…can you stay? Wait for me?" Regulus asked shyly. Not the last option, then.

Snape opened his mouth to answer, but Cameron cut him off. "I might be persuaded to end today's lesson at four thirty if you can show me a proper Freezing Charm by that time."

Regulus' face seemed to be battling between its usual scowl and gratitude. "Really?"

"I could wait that long," Snape said. "I look forward to seeing you in the parlor when you're finished."

Regulus flushed. "Right. Yes, me too. I mean, I…I'll see you in a bit, then."

Well, this was almost cute. Who knew Snape had friends, or that Regulus was capable of anything but whinging? Cameron very studiously did not laugh at them. He was certain, at least, that Regulus would finally put some energy into his Glacius.

XXX

Cameron slipped into the loo at Regulus' wake. Well, it was sort of a wake, except without the body. Regulus had disappeared some six weeks previous, at the beginning of his Christmas break, and after searching high and low (and no doubt performing several locating spells of questionable legality), his parents had declared him dead and invited friends, family, and various others to Grimmauld Place to mourn him.

Cameron cast a Silencing Charm and called, "Kreacher?"

After a moment, he tried again. "Kreacher, I know I'm not your master, but it's very important that I speak with you."

Finally, Kreacher popped into the loo looking at him with a fair amount of suspicion.

"Hi, Kreacher. Do you remember me? I'm Cameron Sage, Regulus' tutor?"

"Kreacher remembers," replied the house elf.

"Good. Ah, I need to ask you something. I know about the trip you took with Regulus."

Kreacher shook his head. "No one knows, Master Regulus said so."

"Well, I know. He told me. I know that he brought you to that cave to retrieve the locket you put there. I also know that he ordered you to destroy it."

Kreacher's eyes were wide and frightened. "No," he pleaded, "No one is to know!"

"It's okay, Kreacher. I know you weren't able to destroy it." Kreacher started wringing his hands, upset by his inability to follow his master's orders. "But I can help you—I know how to destroy it."

"Cameron Sage can help Kreacher?"

"Yes. I can help. If you just give me the locket, I'll take it and destroy it, just like Master Regulus wanted." Kreacher looked skeptical, but then, for some unfathomable reason, seemed to decide that Cameron was good for his word and nodded. He disappeared for a moment, and returned with the locket.

"Cameron Sage will take good care of it? He will be doing Master's wishes?"

"Yes, I'll do exactly what he wanted," Cameron answered, and Kreacher handed him the Horcrux. He tried not to shudder at the dark feel of it. "Master Regulus would be very pleased with you, Kreacher."

Tears began to well in the house elf's eyes, but he disappeared again.

Cameron sagged with relief. Finally, he was making some progress. Now he just had to make it out of there without anyone being the wiser.

He was only a few steps down the hallway when he encountered Snape. Great, just what he needed. He didn't know how much Legilimency Snape knew at this age, and he was thankful that Occlumency had become second nature to him by now.

"Mr. Sage."

"Mr. Snape, hello." He hesitated, then added, "I know he was your friend—I'm sorry for your loss."

Snape's expression remained carefully neutral. "Yes, well. Our…association, as it were, was rather brief. Though I thank you for the sentiment. He will be missed."

Hmm. Perhaps the infatuation had been more one-sided than he'd thought? Or maybe they'd just grown apart since he saw them in August. He didn't dwell on it for long, because Snape seemed to be studying his face. He hadn't given himself away somehow, had he?

"May I ask you a question, Mr. Sage?"

"You may," he answered warily.

"Are you, perchance, related to Lily Evans?"

Cameron's heart stopped beating for a moment, the started back up double-time. He forced himself to be calm. There was no way Snape had figured out who he was. No way.

"I don't believe so. I've never heard the name, that I recall. An acquaintance of yours?" It was at that point he remembered the memories Snape had given him about his mother as he lay dying. Hadn't he loved her?

"Indeed, I've known her since childhood. She was like a sister to me, until…well. Suffice it to say we have not spoken in a long while," he answered with a pained look. "You have the same eyes."

"Indeed? Perhaps a long-lost cousin." For some inexplicable reason, he was rather pleased that Snape thought of his mother as a sister.

"Unlikely, really. She was muggle-born." Snape seemed to be waiting for his reaction to that revelation. He was careful to give none at all.

"Ah. Perhaps not, then. I suppose we'll never know."

Snape gave no response. He just stood there looking at Cameron.

"Was there anything else?" he asked with a touch of impatience, and that seemed to jog Snape out of his reverie.

"Nothing at all. Excuse me," he said, and brushed past Cameron toward the loo.