I do not own anything. I'm just translating. The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The story belongs to the amazing Brigi. Her e-mail: tbwtpbe [et] hotmail com

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THE BOY WITH THE PIERCING BLUE EYES

Chapter 45 – "I want it too…" (part 2)

Severus rubbed his forehead as he entered the staff room.

"What's wrong?" Remus with whom he arrived together asked.

"My head is killing me…"

"Then a tea would definitely make you feel better…" Lucinda handed a cup to each of them.

Snape looked surprised when he took one and said a quiet 'Thank you'.

"You both look awful," Professor Vector said. "Severus, at least you should make a potion for yourself."

The man just hummed as he sipped his tea. Footsteps could be heard from the neighboring room until Moody entered with Dumbledore, Sirius and the Minister.

"Ah, Professor Lupin!" Caramel greeted Remus cheerfully. "Thank you again for your testimony! The Winzengamot formally terminated the investigation of Sirius Black. You, sir, are a free man as of today," he congratulated Sirius with a smile. The other man forced a grimace but didn't look all that happy.

Remus congratulated him with an awkward nod but he was still angry about the incident last time. Snape eyed Moody still not liking the man one bit.

"Excellent," Dumbledore smiled. "We can announce the good news during dinner."

"Good luck," Fudge took off his hat then said goodbye.

"Alastor, I hope you're spending the evening with us. We can provide you with a guestroom," the headmaster continued.

The old Auror nodded grimly but kept his glass eye on Severus.

"I could never pass such an opportunity," he said knowingly.

The Potions Master looked at the ceiling and asked for patience.

"You're in a bad shape, Snape!" Moody blurted out suddenly.

"How considerate of you to mention it," Severus sighed.

Remus grinned and took a sip of his tea.

Sirius, seeing how good the relationship between Snape and his childhood friend was, felt crestfallen. They seemed to understand each other without saying much. Just like how they used to… What happened to him? Why was he like that?

Doubts flooded his heart. Remus didn't like Snape before but now, they seemed to be good friends. What could have made him change? Or maybe Severus was like this all along and he didn't notice? First, he took his godson and now his best friend… Was he the only one who felt ripped of everything? Why couldn't… why couldn't they share things like before? Before, when he, James, Remus and Peter were equals in everything…

His eyes clouded over and probably only Dumbledore noticed it as he put a hand on his shoulder. When their eyes met, he nodded barely visibly.

"And what are you going to do, you free man?" Remus sat down on his couch.

"I'm thinking about… buying a really big house. Where we could all live together."

Remus gasped.

"Look, I'll be honest. It's a very noble gesture, but Harry…"

"Will agree. I know it. I'll see to it… Not even Severus' whining could prevent it."

"Sirius, what… are you thinking? Sirius! Put that wand down!" he shouted when he saw his friend aiming at him.

A few minutes later, after he locked Lupin up in his room, Sirius ran towards the Slytherin corridors. He knew he didn't have much time but that only made him all the more determined. His long black hair billowed behind him as he ran like a student finding the shortest route. He knew instinctively where to go.

At Snape's door he stopped, took a deep breath and knocked. From inside he heard a faint 'Enter'. He knew the Potions Master held his office hours at this time of the day, though almost no one ever came. He took advantage of the moment to sneak into the room.

He had never been in the man's room – as a living human being. It was weird to walk on the corridors and rooms he frequented as a ghost. He saw that the door of the living room was open and looked inside to find Snape putting books on the shelf. He walked in and closed the door.

Severus noticed the sound and turned his stomach immediately jerking nervously upon seeing his old nemesis.

"What…?"

"Muniminis!" Sirius shouted the spell towards the door.

Snape's eyes widened.

"How… how dare you use a foreign spell on my rom?!" he snapped at Black. "How dare you insult the sanctity of a house?!"

He took his wand out.

"Get out, you dog! I won't let you…"

"Expeliarmus!" Sirius said and the wand flew out of Severus' hands but he didn't appear defeated.

"You're going to listen to me. Whether you like it or not," Sirius said. "I have a wand and I'm not afraid to use it. Even if it's you!"

"You're crazy," Snape snapped. "You just got your freedom back and you want to start with murder? It really was a hasty decision…"

"No one's going to kill anyone. Now shut up and listen!"

"Don't order me around! It's my house!"

"You're as stubborn as a mule! Why are you making this so difficult? Let me say what I want!"

"Unnecessary…" Snape looked away in disgust. "She's yours. You can have her."

"It's exactly about Rowena."

"Don't say that woman's name in this room!"

"Rowena loves you! Why can't you understand that?!"

However, Severus was at the end of his patience and his fists clenched in anger.

"Hah, she has an interesting way of showing it. But I'm happy about one thing. Now you understand what it feels like to get someone's discarded things."

"How… how can you say that, ugly bat?!" Sirius snapped.

He looked at his trembling fist, threw the wands away and jumped at Snape who was prepared for everything but that. They fell to the floor and he punched the Potions Master really hard. Severus was so surprised that he didn't even notice the blood on his lips.

"Get… get off me… you bastard!" he started wrestling him.

Their arms flailed as they fought, scrapped and bit each other. Sirius tried to stay away from Snape's mouth; if the man bit him they would both be in serious trouble. But the scratches were hard to deal with too.

"Stop it already, idiot!" he yelled at him.

But Snape gathered his strength and pushed him away. He tried to stand up but slipped on the crumpled carpet and fell back. With one hand, he knocked the table over and the red ink bottle splattered on everything, including their clothes.

"Shit…!"

It seemed that Snape liked that table as he first used it to pull himself up then threw it at Sirius. The table broke into pieces and fell to the ground while Sirius coughed on the floor.

"I hate you! I hate everything about you!" he shouted. "You'll pay for everything!"

He pushed the standing clock over but Sirius rolled away before it could hit him.

"Idiot!" he shouted with a bloody face.

He pulled the curtain but it came with the cornice. He rolled it up and started hitting Snape with it. The Potions Master tried to dodge but it hit his ribs more than once. He ran to the cabinet and hid behind it for a while then opened it and started throwing the cups and plates at Sirius.

"Oh, damn you!" Sirius shouted when the third cup hit him.

He retreated and dropped the now useless curtain. He took the cornice and threw it at the cabinet; the sharp end piercing the wood. Snape paled when it started to wobble then fell over.

"You stupid bastard!" he yelled. "It was a hundred and fifty-year-old cabinet!"

"You started it!"

A sharp sound could be heard from outside.

"Dad!" Lamerin said. "What's wrong? Answer me! What's going on in there?!"

Both man stopped for a moment.

"Lamerin, run!"

"You coward!" Sirius spat in the dust.

"Run before this lunatic can hurt you!"

Lamerin ran as if his life depended on it. His lungs could barely keep up as he reached the Gryffindor common rooms.

"Let me in!" he snapped at the Fat Lady. "It's an emergency!"

"I'm sorry, password first!"

"I'll cut you out of that frame, you ugly…!"

Luckily, someone peeked out from behind the portrait.

"Who's yelling so loudly?"

"Out of the way!" Lamerin ran up the stairs to the boys' room. "Harry!" he shouted as he burst through the door.

"What happened?" Ron asked looking up from his Divination book.

They both suspected that something was wrong.

"Sirius Black…" Lamerin coughed. "He wants to kill Dad!"

Hermione who just entered the room started screaming.

"What does he want?" Ginny shuddered.

"Please help me, I beg you! I can't go in! He closed down Dad's room with a spell!"

"Let's go!" Harry shouted.

All five of them ran out of the common room.

"We need someone…!" Hermione said. "We need a teacher's help!"

"Let's go to Dumbledore or McGonagall!" Ginny offered immediately.

"No! They would fire Snape!" Harry shouted. "He had a lot of close calls this year. A stupid duel and he's out! Let's get Remus!"

They had to stop in front of Lupin's room.

"Closed!"

"From the outside!" Hermione took out her wand. "Alohomora!"

The door opened.

"What happened?" Rowena ran to them and Ginny looked at her friends with a guilty smile.

"Congratulations," Harry snapped. "Snape and Sirius are fighting over you!"

"Oh Merlin, Professor Lupin!" Hermione screamed when she saw Remus on the floor tied up.

"Expedire!" Lamerin said the spell to free the writhing man.

Lupin got to his feet immediately.

"Where's Sirius?! I'm going to kill him!"

"You're starting it too?" Harry asked angrily as they started running towards Snape's room.

Sirius broke a dusty chair on the Potions Master's back while the man tried to protect himself with little success. He stepped on the piece of furniture and tore the legs off before tossing them at Black. He realized they were going nowhere like this and ran at Snape like a bull before they fell to the floor.

They both looked beaten; bleeding from several wounds and barely able to stand.

Sirius tried to hit Severus with his right hand but missed, however Snape punched him with his left. Black got dizzy and collapsed to the ground. Crawling on all fours he looked at the professor.

"You… broke… my tooth…"

"Don't… think… I'll… apologize…" Severus gasped. "Are you afraid… of loosing your mojo?!"

"You bastard!" Sirius lunged forward but missed again.

Snape punched him so hard even he was surprised.

Sirius stumbled dizzily.

"Oh, Merlin!" Snape shuddered when he saw the man falling towards the sharp iron bars around the fireplace.

He struggled to get there without thinking and pulled Sirius back at the last minute.

Black's heart skipped a beat when he realized the situation he had been in. With flailing arms, he backed away from the dangerous place. However, he was shaking so much, his legs buckled and collapsed to the floor in front of the fireplace. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he looked at the pointed spikes.

Snape collapsed next to him looking pale as a ghost.

"I almost… killed you…" he whispered quietly while staring at the stove.

"You saved my life…" Sirius looked at him in astonishment.

"I almost… killed you…" Severus repeated then bowed his head.

From his clenched eyes some tears slipped out while Sirius stared at him in disbelief.

"I almost killed you," The Potions Master sniffed. "I've never wanted anything more than this… for you to pay for everything you did to me… But I can't… they love you… How could I look them in the eye…?!"

He turned away from Sirius and covered his face.

"Oh, you big idiot," Black smiled warmly and patted Snape's back lightly causing a cloud of dust to fly up.

"What are you doing?" Snape punched him one last time. "Don't patronize me!"

Sirius lay back on the floor laughing.

"You idiot… You still love her! You really love her!"

"It's only thanks to them that you're alive! Not me! What would Harry and Rowena do without you?!"

"Would you please stop that and listen to what I have to say?"

"I'm not interested," Snape stared into the fireplace.

"It doesn't matter. Unless you sew my lips together, you'll have to listen."

When he saw Severus doing nothing he continued.

"Rowena loves you. And she's also suffering… because you didn't give her a chance to explain."

"There's nothing to explain… she saw you and realized she still loves you…"

"That was just an innocent kiss. It has been years since we last saw each other. It happened… but it didn't mean anything."

Severus turned to him suddenly and almost fell over at the quick movement.

"The flame of our love has long been extinguished," Sirius continued while scooting closer to the professor. "Do you really not trust her?"

"You wouldn't trust anyone in my place either…" he said bitterly.

"I know and I'm sorry!" Sirius' face fell. "Believe me, I'm sorry!"

Severus couldn't believe his ears.

"I should have… apologized a long time ago! You are…" he sighed… "…a good man. I saw how you treated Harry… You were everything James wanted me to be. You were able to forgive his father's sins… Please…" he looked into the black eyes. "…forgive me too!"

Snape blinked.

"Say that again!"

"Why?"

"It's so nice to hear the great Sirius Black apologizing for something!"

"Idiot," Sirius hit his shoulder with a laugh.

"Ouch!" Snape groaned but laughed all the same. There was no part of his body that didn't hurt.

"Oh Merlin! I'm sorry!" Black apologized.

"It's… okay…" Severus groaned.

They didn't know if those words were about the push or all the bad things in the past, but he forgave. Both of them knew that things were going to be different from then on.

They sat in front of the fireplace and stared ahead.

"You have to be together," Sirius finally started. "You and Rowena. You're too good together to be apart. And you have to know that nothing happened between us since…!"

"All right, all right, I believe you!" Snape raised his hands in protest. He had no desire to hear any details.

"Good…"

"You're doing this for Harry, right?" the Potions Master asked after a brief silence.

Sirius nodded.

"I would do anything for him…" he said with a warm smile. "He's the… most important for me… I couldn't go on with him not talking to me…" he sniffed and tried to hide his tears.

Snape felt a bit uncomfortable with his late nemesis crying next to him but didn't have time to wonder what to do as loud banging came from the door.

"It seems your son is back," Sirius said with a grin and quickly wiped his tears. "Wonderful child. A bit insolent, but nothing that can't be fixed," he added. "You should be proud of him."

Snape was happy with the compliment and maybe a small blush would have been visible on his face if it weren't bruised and bloody already.

"Dad!"

"Sirius! Please, don't do anything stupid!"

"Professor Snape!" Ginny and Ron shouted at once.

"Sirius! Open the door at once!" Lupin shouted.

"Ouch!" Black paled. "Moony escaped!"

"What did you do to him?"

"Locked him in… tied him up…"

Snape couldn't stop laughing. Sirius reached out a hand towards his wand and it flew into his grip. He swallowed and opened the door.

The people outside fell into the room, only Rowena remained standing. She gasped at the sight of the ruined room and bloody men.

"Bloody hell!" Ron's eyes widened. "Wow!"

"Dad!" Lamerin stood up and walked to Snape with tears in his eyes. "Did that madman hurt you? I was so scared something was going to happen to you!"

"Madman?"

"Sirius, you damn bastard!" Remus rushed to his friend and punched him so hard even Snape winced.

"Ouch, Remus!"

"How dare you lock me in and tie me up?! You could have killed each other! Two idiots! You should be in a mental hospital not in society!" he shouted at them.

To their surprise, the two men started laughing.

"It's alright, Remus."

"Calm down, Moony, we're not going to fight anymore!"

"You… made peace? Oh God, you look awful…" he looked at them with pity as they got up.

"We're alright," Sirius grinned and his lack of teeth showed.

All those present winced then started laughing.

The first tears appeared on Rowena's face as she looked at her former betrothed who nodded and motioned towards Snape with his head. The woman turned towards Severus who looked at her with mixed feelings; with guilt and love alike.

Rowena smiled and ran to them, embracing him and Lamerin as they all cried together.

Ginny furiously wiped her tears.

Only Harry was left kneeling on the ground watching his godfather with wide eyes. Slowly, tears ran down his face while Sirius crawled to him with a smile and wiped the boy's face. Harry looked down in shame.

"Forgive me!" he begged. "Forgive me for saying such awful things!"

"You don't need to apologize. It… had to happen this way," he looked around and his eyes lingered on the Snapes for a while. "And I love you the way you are. No matter what you say or do… I'll always love you," he wiped the boy's face again. "Let's start anew, okay?"

Harry threw himself at the man and started sobbing loudly.

"I'm so happy you're back! I wanted to say this fro a long time now!"

"We'll be together forever… You won't ever be alone again… I swear to you…"