Alia: Okay people. I got good news and bad news. Good news, I updated. Bad news. NO MPREG. Yes I know. A complete contradiction for me (and the story title) but the story wouldn't work well with mpreg. However for those that wish to see Sev and Alex happy with the stampeding of little feet don't fear. I have some planned, but it won't be till the VERY end. Until then, enjoy.
Title: Expecting The Absolute Weirdest
Author: Alia
Part 1/1
Rating: R
Pairing: Severus Snape / Original Male Character; Severus Snape / Harry Potter
Spoilers: I'm not exactly sure...HBP spoilers (just not the way you would think)!
Warnings: slash, language, angst, humor?, AU
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Harry Potter. I would like to but JKR does and I don't think she's inclined to share.
Summary: Two men facing painful losses drown their sorrows, and make an already interesting rollercoaster much more interesting.
Author's notes: This is just a silly little story. I don't even know why I'm writing it. I think it may be one of those feel good stories. NO SAP. It makes me sick to my stomach. Ah well. Here goes.
Expecting The Absolute Weirdest
It didn't take long for Severus to realize that whatever Alexius was going through, his husband wasn't alone anymore. Severus also learned that he had to do something to help.
It had been late afternoon. Severus was in his basement lab checking on his stores. Alex slept silently, momentarily recovering from the demons plaguing him. Severus had dinner cooking slowly in the kitchen so that it would be ready by the time Alexius finally woke up.
So when the crying started again, Severus was the only one that heard it.
Severus froze in shock, unable to believe for a moment that Alex had actually been right. There didn't appear to be a way for the dark haired wizard to contradict his younger husband, however, as the cries of an infant continued, easily penetrating the thick walls of their basement.
Putting down the jar of dried snake tongues before he dropped it, Severus turned hesitantly toward the small stairs and headed for the first floor. Although he didn't want to, the potions master knew that he had to investigate whatever was bothering his husband.
/But I have to be insane to really think it's Nathaniel. Alex didn't move here until years after the baby's death./ But as the crying grew louder, Severus grew more worried.
Little Nathan had been killed with the killing curse. Deaths like that prevented the ghosts from returning to haunt the living, so how was it possible that the infant-?
Severus shook himself. /It can't possibly be him. Another ghost?/ Severus knew for a fact that there was no one in the house but him and Alex. Perhaps it was a former resident of the house.
Nodding at the most logical idea that his mind had found, Severus stopped his short walk in front of the small library that he had claimed after moving in with Alex. After receiving a raised eyebrow and a harsh remark about the appearance of his former residence, Severus had wanted some compensation for selling Spinner's End.
Opening the door, Severus immediately began surveying every inch of the room as the crying grew louder. /So it's coming from here, but I don't understand how-/ Mentally, Severus's thoughts stopped suddenly as the potions master stared in front of him.
The room was simple. There was a black sofa, two large wingback chairs in a deep burgundy, and a heavy wood table that stood before a fireplace with a small fire. A wooden chair sat in the corner beside a small round table with tall legs. There were no pictures or windows in the room. All the walls were covered from top to bottom with strong shelves and each shelf was packed with books.
Everything was in its place, from the small clock on the mantle of the fireplace to the small stack of potions magazines on the round table in the corner. What wasn't usual was the small head covered with soft hair that Severus could see just over the back of the sofa.
/Oh Merlin./ The head was certainly too small to be an adult and Severus knew for a fact that it had to be a child. /It's not possible. At least it shouldn't be./ But if this were really happening it was no wonder to Severus that his husband was a complete mess.
With clear hesitation, Severus stepped closer to the sofa where the ghostly figure of a child sat. /Perhaps it isn't Nathaniel./ Severus thought as he reminded himself of how Nathan had died. /It could be a former resident./
Severus began mentally picturing the only photograph his husband had of his dead child that sat face down on Alex's nightstand. Taking a deep breath, Severus peered over the back of the large piece of furniture. A teary eyed face looked up to him and showed him something he did not expect to see.
"I still can't understand why."
"Then you're an -,"
"That's not what I meant!" he snapped before the insult was spoken. "I mean we both know that there are plenty of alternatives. So why?"
Dark eyes looked at him. "Normality."
Alexius's head snapped up from the round, maple kitchen table as Severus slammed a heavy tomb down a few inches from his husband's head. The short haired man glared. "You're nicer to me when you knew I had a hangover."
"Alexius, I do not have time for your nonsense this morning."
"Is that why you're being so mean to me?" Alex shook his head and mumbled about Severus making breakfast.
The potions master observed his husband as the man dropped his head back into his arms. His hair flying in every direction, Alexius still appeared to be better than he was the evening before. His eyes weren't quite as haunted and there was more color in his face. /Let me hope that he'll be able to handle this./
"I need you to read something." Severus opened the heavy, old book and began flipping through the pages, trying to find what he was looking for.
"Why? It's too early! My eyes haven't focused yet." The words came out clear yet muffled. Alex hadn't raised his head.
"Alex, will you stop acting like a five year old and read this," he growled impatiently. Severus pushed the book toward the other man.
"What can it possibly be that is so damn important?" Alex snapped as he sat back in his chair.
"I saw Nathan last night." Severus fought the impulse to bite his lip when Alex froze in his chair.
"What?" he said evenly, but Severus knew he was stunned. Alex was clenching his fists tightly.
"You told me you hear crying last night before you went to sleep. I didn't believe you until I heard it."
Alex leaped to his feet, knocking back his chair and surprising Severus. Not realizing that he was causing the potions master a small amount of fear when his wild eyed husband grabbed his upper arms, the pub owner pulled his husband close to look into his eyes. The only thing that prevented Severus from an instinctive struggle was the fact that Alex didn't put any pressure on his arms.
"Heard it? What do you mean you 'heard it'?" Alex stopped himself from shaking Severus, worried that he would anger or hurt his husband. But he found himself scared, wondering if his yearly madness had somehow infected Severus. It was an insane thought, Alex knew, but something that wouldn't leave him.
"I heard a baby crying last night after you went to sleep." Severus stared his terrified husband in the eyes. "It surprised me so I decided to investigate." Severus gently nudged his husband back into his seat. Alex released Severus as he continued staring up at the older wizard.
"It was coming from the library. I went in and I saw a baby, a ghost, sitting on the couch. I saw him, Alex. It really was Nathanial."
Pure anguish was displayed over his lover's face as he slowly shook his head. But concern grasped Severus's attention when he noticed that the pain was disappearing and that Alexius' face was totally blank. It was only a few moments before his husband's face transformed and left him with empty holes for eyes.
"Alex?" Severus said softly.
Alex clasped his hands together on the table as he turned in his chair to face to furniture properly.
"Alex?" Severus said more insistently.
The younger wizard closed his eyes. "That's not true. It's not true."
"I would not lie to you about something like this, Alex."
"It can't be true," he whispered stonily. "I'm mad. I know that and I know damn well that madness can't spread like some STD. So it can't be true. You couldn't have seen him."
Scowling with worry at his husband, Severus pushed the book before him and pointed at a passage. "You aren't insane, Alexius! No matter how much you wish to believe it." Severus stared at him. "At least try to read it, Alex," said Severus as the man turned his head away from him.
Alex gave an explosive sigh before turning to the book. Severus sat down in the chair perpendicular to his husband's right as Alex read silently.
It was a few minutes before Alex raised his head. He had read the passage at least twice. "So, I'm not insane?" he whispered with an almost reluctant hope.
"No. Nathan was, no, is your son, Alex. He has a connection with you that neither of you want to let go of. Because of that, he revisits you every Hallows Eve when it's time for some spirits to return."
It had been the only real explanation that Severus could find. And with the way the small child was crying for his daddy, Severus knew he was right. Somehow the father-son connection the two had allowed the baby to visit his father at least once a year.
"So what does this mean?" Dark green eyes began to fill with concern. "Is this hurting him? Is he in danger?"
"No. He's fine. He is simply...visiting."
"But he shouldn't be here." Alex closed the book, looking terribly sad. "Next Halloween? We break the connection?"
"If you wish." Severus wasn't sure it was a good idea but knew that Alex couldn't take going through another Halloween like yesterday.
The kitchen was silent for a while as both men stared at the book. "I hope...I wonder..." Alex shook his head. /It shouldn't be possible. Not here./ Taking a deep breath, he looked at his husband. "Maybe he'll be reborn. Hopefully into a good family this time."
Severus gave his husband a long assessing look as he wondered if Alexius was trying to tell him something. He stood. "I'll fix breakfast."
(Alia: I'm gonna be nice and add more. Be happy and dance around in your chair for a minute. I won't tell.)
"So you hate him?"
"Not necessarily. He is still my enemy but at the same time someone I...trust. Although not much."
He laughed. "I understand that only too well."
"Oh?"
"Psst! Severus!"
Pausing with a look of annoyed confusion on his face, Severus turned around in a stiff circle, looking for whoever had called him. An raised eyebrow was all his husband received when Severus noticed him.
Alex grinned at him from around the corner of the corridor motioning him over frantically as he hid the rest of his body from Severus's view. "Come with me."
"Alexius, what the bloody hell are you doing here?" Severus asked slightly amused.
It was Yule and the majority of the students were gone home for the holidays leaving only a few older students and the professors behind. Severus had planned to leave for Greece since all of his snakes were home for the holidays. He wasn't going for a couple more days, however.
"What? I can't surprise my husband?" He said with a smirk.
Severus snorted at him in disbelief. "You actually expect me to believe that?"
Alex's smirk grew. "You're so suspicious, Severus! Don't you trust me?"
Severus gave him a long look that illicited a snicker from the younger man. Mentally, the potions master sighed. /Merlin, help me. He's in another one of his moods./ But Severus had become accustomed to Alex's shifty behavior.
"Now come on. We have some holiday shopping to do."
"Shopping?" Severus asked flatly. He couldn't remember planning to shop for anyone. Severus couldn't even be sure that he was shopping for Alex. He walked toward his husband.
Alex nodded solemnly. The smile on his face remained. "Oh yes. Little trinkets for my employees and your colleagues. Everyone's behaved so well about the sudden marriage thing that I thought we'd reward them."
Severus took the hand Alex offered him as he rounded the corner where his husband was standing. What he didn't expect was for Alex to push him into the wall, albeit gently, and kiss him.
With Alexius' hands and forearms braced beside Severus's shoulders and the potions master's arms pinned against the wizard's chest, Severus found that he was unable to move himself from his husband's embrace. The smirk on Alex's face showed that he knew it exactly.
"Alexius Agath-," Severus's scolding was cut early by another kiss from Alex.
But while the older wizard didn't mind kissing his spouse, they rarely used public displays of affection as neither liked it. So in fear that one of his students or colleagues, the last people in the world that Severus wanted to stumble over them, Severus tried squirming out of his husband's arms. Alex, however, only held on by wrapping his arms around Severus completely, allowing one hand to drop down and give Severus's arse a quick squeeze.
Starting with a gasp, Severus blinked in surprise as his lips were abandoned for his neck. "Alex!" he whispered as his eyes darted around them.
Alex responded with a put out sigh against Severus's skin before abruptly releasing his husband. Only Severus's natural grace kept him from stumbling. "Severus, I haven't seen you in well over a month and you expect us to spend the day together innocently?" Alex snorted and started down the hall, leaving his aggravated husband to follow.
By the time they'd walked into Hogsmeade, Alex had Severus speaking to him again, but in a much kinder manner. To say that the potions master had been unpleasant would be an understatement. Alex was grateful that his better half was such a forgiving man. At least where Alex was concerned. At least most of the time.
"So where do we start? I don't know all of Hogsmeade," said Alex as he looked around. The village appeared to have more people moving about than Alex's last visit but with it being so close to Yule, he understood.
Severus stared out into the village with a contemplative look as he made certain his black cloak and scarf kept most of his body covered from the cold, winter air. Alex was also warmly dressed, but had put aside his usual white for a deep gray. His robes and cloak were still the same cut; Alex always had his throat covered. People simply asked too many questions.
"I suppose going to Honeydukes would be enough?" asked Severus, who tried not too place too much hope in his voice.
Alex glanced at him. "It would be a good idea. But don't you want to add a personal touch to them?"
"Perhaps a few." Severus thought of his colleagues. No matter how annoying they all were, they considered him their friends and always sent him gifts. Severus's usual gift to the majority of them were hangover potions. "Do you intend to do the same?"
Alex scoffed. "My employees can go to hell for all I care. I thought doing something nice like this would make them a little less..." Alex shook his head, unable to find a word for them. "For cook, I might find something. The old battle axe deserves something for putting up with the others."
Severus merely nodded and wondered if his husband realized that despite the woman's temper, Alex was fond of her. Severus had a feeling that it was also vice versa although both would jump to their deaths before they would admit it. Especially to each other.
"So let go to Honeydukes now. We can decide where else to go later."
The two men continued into the village slowly, Alexius keeping only enough distance to be appropriate. It didn't stop him from occasionally bumping his hand into his husband's and staying close enough to let people know they'd entered Hogsmeade together.
A few curious glances were thrown their way, one or two thrown hostily in Severus's direction, but none of the looks were given any attention. Severus and Alex had begun talking about the local government in Greece and how a local political issue was turning out.
"They're lacking any type of real understanding about the issues, Severus. They aren't seeing everything from all sides."
"Many don't," replied the potions master. "And they make decision before gaining all the facts. All countries are like that, Alex. It's one of the problems that come with the majority. Most of the time, the majority is too stupid to see what is in front of them. Take the incidents in the States for example." (Alia: No this isn't a reference to anything really happening in the US.)
Alex nodded. "Or here in Great Britain. It's amazing that Fudge is BACK in office. I mean how is that possible?" Alex exclaimed. "The man is...not the brightest among us."
"The Ministry is cursed, Alex. I thought you knew." Severus slowed as they came upon Honeydukes.
Alex rolled his eyes. "Oh very funny, Severus." He watched his husband smirk at him. Alex frowned. "It's not really cursed is it?"
"Alex, hurry so we can finish."
"Severus, please tell me the Ministry isn't really cursed." Not receiving an answer, Alex cursed softly and quickly followed his husband into the sweets store. He mock sighed with despondence. "You're always teasing me. I feel incredibly stupid around you sometimes."
"Only sometimes?" asked Severus, who was quick to pass the register and go further into the store. Alex barely kept up to the older wizard. "I'll have to work on that."
"There is that teasing again," Alex hissed with a small smile as they continued looking through the sweets. Alex began picking random products.
"Consider that a part of the revenge I own you for earlier." Severus grimaced at a particular sweet that he personally considered vile and wondered if it would work for his colleagues. He knew at least three hated it.
"You act as if I committed some unforgiveable sin!"
Severus raised an eyebrow as Alex tried to look innocent. "It doesn't work with me. You need more practice."
"This could be considered spousal abuse!" declared Alex as he tried to stop his grin. Severus couldn't quite hold back his snort of amusement. Alex looked rather smug at that, silently saying that he had won.
Severus decided to be the better man and walk away with a smirk firmly on his face. Alex wished he was younger. If he'd started skipping, he wouldn't look weird.
The couple continued looking through the various sweets and were slowly making their way back to the front of the shop. Alex had many different things in his arms. He'd picked anything that caught his eye. The wizard didn't appear to care what they were or what they tasted like.
Severus had chosen a few things he'd known his colleagues favored although he'd purposely chosen something different for Albus.
Alex had spotted a sweet called 'dragon drops'. "Sounds a bit strange doesn't it?" he asked Severus as the potions master peered over his husband's shoulder. Alexius picked one up and looked at it.
"It looks like one of Albus's lemon drops," Severus grimaced at the thought of the sweets. Albus was one of the two members on staff that enjoyed the disgusting things.
"True, but maybe these are strawberry. Look. They're all red." He sniffed one then grimaced. "Damn. These are hot."
"Excuse me?" Severus asked confused.
"They're called dragon drops because they are those really hot tasting sweets. This will probably burn your tongue off!"
Severus paused and stared at the sweets. "Get a bag."
"What for?" asked Alex. He watched with furrowed eyebrows as Severus picked up a regular bag of lemon drops.
The potions master smirked and took the bag from his husband. "These are for Albus." He started down the aisle again.
"Yes, but he won't like those. I doubt he'd even try them."
"He will if he thinks they're strawberry." Alex had stared at his husband before bursting into laughter, startling the cashier.
It wasn't long before Severus was sick of the shop and the sweets and was trying to pull Alex away from the chocolate frogs. Apparently the younger man had a great fondness for the treat.
"Do you really need that many?" he snapped impatiently.
Alex shrugged. "It brings back some good childhood memories. Besides, they've started filling them with different kinds of cremes lately." He handed Severus two. "Try those later. You'll like them. I promise."
Sighing, Severus plucked the treats from his husband's hand and headed toward the front of the shop to pay for his choices. Alex followed behind quickly, juggling his purchases and the gifts for his staff.
"Do you think I should wrap them? I know a spell that will do it easily."
Severus paused and nodded. "At least your employees will think it took some effort. They may think better of you."
"Why wouldn't they think better of me already?" asked Alex, honestly confused.
"You mean with you throwing curses at them on a daily basis?" Severus said with a smirk. Alex coughed with amusement.
"Severus?"
The potions master stilled as he recognized the voice. Alex also stiffened as he stared at his husband's face. Emotions were moving as smoothly as water over Severus's features before becoming completely blank. /Not good./
Alex turned his head toward the cashier with a fake, but easily believable, smile as the man began pricing their purchases. However, Alexius wasn't paying any attention to the cashier's actions but to what was happening next to him.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Alex could see a somewhat pale looking man standing at the door. He didn't look like he was in the finest state of health but he was did look well. The sandy haired man was staring at Severus with a bit of shock on his face as the potions master gave him an expressionless look in return.
The man never took his amber eyes off of Severus as he shifted uncomfortably under his thick robes. He cleared his throat and tried to call up a pleasant smile. Even with peripheral vision, Alex could see that the man only half succeeded. "Hello, Severus."
"Lupin," The dark clothed man replied. His voice sounded empty and cold but Alex sensed anger in Severus's voice.
Alex quickly paid for his items, turned his body fully toward the two men. Not totally sure of everything he saw in Lupin's eyes, Alex placed his right hand along Severus's lower back. "Severus?" he asked worriedly.
Severus could see Lupin's eyes widen in surprise at Alex's rather blatant claim. Apparently the werewolf was smart enough to know that the two men must be rather close. Especially seeing that Severus had yet to hex Alexius. Had Alex dropped his hand any lower as he had earlier, Severus would have.
"Is everything alright?" Alex asked as if he couldn't see perfectly well what was happening. Severus knew exactly what his husband was doing.
Severus turned away from Lupin to look at Alex. Raising the hand that held his plain, silver wedding ring, Severus took their packages from the store clerk. "I'm fine, Alex." He glanced back to see the absolutely stunned expression on Lupin's face.
The Hogwarts professor rarely wore his wedding ring as he feared damaging it while working with his experiments and classes. It was usually kept in his pockets. Severus had only worn it today because classes were over and he and Alex were headed into the village.
"So are we ready to go?" Alex made sure to look at Lupin with confusion. He knew perfectly well who the man was and Alexius wasn't happy with him at all.
Severus nodded and the men walked toward Lupin. Stopping in front of the former DADA professor, Severus raised an eyebrow and stared at him coldly. Alex smiled but didn't hide the hint of steel in his eyes. "Excuse us." The younger man stated politely.
Remus started out of whatever world his mind had been lost to as he took in the obviously married couple in front of him. "Of course! My apologies." He didn't move, however. He couldn't force himself to.
Severus glared at Lupin as he stretched out a right hand to Alex. "Remus Lupin."
Alex gave him a stiff smile. "Alexius Agathon. Now if you'll excuse us, Mr. Lupin, we really must be going."
"Well," Remus started. He didn't know why but he was suddenly desperate to find out more information. He needed to know who this man was and if he was actually Severus's husband as the matching rings indicated. Because Remus didn't know how to feel about that.
"Lupin, get the bloody hell out of the way," Severus snapped rudely, "before I make you get out of the way."
Realizing that Severus was more than willing to do such a thing, especially after Remus's part in past matters, he quickly stepped out of the way. Alex and Severus past the werewolf without so much as a nod of acknowledgment.
"So it's true?" Remus asked Albus as he stood in the Headmaster's office.
As usual, Albus had been happy to see his former employee even though the last time the two men had been in the same area, it hadn't been for pleasantries. Remus had been worried that Albus would be displeased with him for taking the stance he had on Severus and Harry's relationship, but Dumbledore acted as if nothing had happened.
Good thing because Remus wanted information about Snape and Agathon. And he had plenty of questions to ask. One of which Dumbledore had answered.
"Oh yes," Albus said with a smile as he waved a surprised Remus into a chair in front of his desk. "They haven't been married very long. About six or seven months now. I'm not exactly sure when. Severus and Alex are rather tight lipped about their marriage." Albus shook his head with a light exasperation. "All that I know is that they met in Greece during a potions conference."
"He's a potions master?" asked Remus.
"Oh no! Alexius owns a restaurant in Greece. Apparently he and Severus shared a table one night and the rest is history." Albus chuckled as he remembered the teasing Severus had gone through after breaking the news.
"I see. They met," Remus quickly calculated the time. "In June, I suppose." Albus nodded. "That seems a bit soon for marriage. And Severus is not the impulsive kind."
"I must say that it surprised all of us when Severus told us he had married over the summer."
"You didn't get invited to the wedding?" asked Remus who was once again surprised. Then he shook his head. "Oh right. You didn't even know. So what do you think of Agathon?"
"Alexius is a very pleasant man mostly," Albus adding the last in remembrance of his unsettling talk with Alex. "I do not know him very well, but I can see that he and Severus are good for each other. They seem to know each other very well. It's not something you often see with people who have known each other for such a short time."
"It still amazes me that the two of them are together."
"You mean so soon after Severus and young Mr. Potter ended their relationship," Albus said inquiringly.
Remus, however, managed to hear something in the Headmaster's voice that told him that Dumbledore had not forgotten how the situation had come to a head and how it had all ended. He especially hadn't forgotten who was involved.
"Um..." The werewolf found himself a bit speechless for a moment. "Yes, I suppose that's what I mean."
"That is true, but I've seen them, Remus." Albus paused to sip his tea and gaze into nothing. "They love each other very much."
Seeing that Albus didn't know much himself, Remus left after a lemon drop and some tea thinking/What am I going to tell Harry?/
TBC
Alia: Now I'm happy everyone hopefully likes this even with the bad news. Now REVIEW!!!