Second Family Portrait

Sirius didn't even feign disinterest when Snape strode into the dining room. This was the first time he'd been able to get a good look at the other wizard in daylight since his escape from Azkaban. Snape hadn't changed much over the last decade in Sirius's eyes. He was still too pale to be healthy with oversized features and inky black hair he let fall like drapery around his face. He dressed differently from their late teens; no more were the baggy pants that he held up by cinching them at his waist with a thick leather belt and the button-up shirts with sleeves rolled to his elbows to hide they were too short for his long arms.

Now he played at being a respectable man. Snape wore a smart, crafted ensemble comprised of matching gray trousers and a vest beneath his black robe. His robe was a good quality one now too. It was something that wouldn't look out of place around the neck of a Mulciber or Greengrass.

He was made to further fixate on the wizard when he realized he was not entering the room alone. Two teenagers and a little girl followed behind him. The girls were both blonde with Snape's nose. If Remus hadn't already told him about Snape's family he'd think the two were sisters and, somehow, Snape had gotten a poor girl up the duff when they were teenagers. The second teenager was a boy. Sirius felt wonder sweep through him when the kid snickered at something the older girl, Darla Snape, said to him. He looked like Thalia Bones when he laughed.

The kid had to be her son Stephen.

Sirius finally looked away. Once again he swept his gaze over the room's occupants. A handful were faces he recognized from his first time as a part of the Order in the seventies and eighties. Others were completely new. People who hadn't been a part of the Order before and now were. Then there were some faces, like Stephen's, like Darla's, and even his cousin Tonk's which were both new and familiar. They were second generations members. Witches and wizards who'd been too young once but were now old enough to be the Order's soldiers like their parents and other relatives were or once were.

He hoped more of them got to see what came after the war than his generation did.

"You will sit here and you will observe," Snape hissed into the hushed room at his teenage companions. Sirius couldn't help but watch as Darla and Stephen plonked themselves into chairs. Darla was much more animated than Stephen about it. Grimacing at her brother as she settled in her seat while the boy folded his hands in his lap.

Snape narrowed his eyes at his sister. "Do you understand me, Darla? Stephen? This is your first meeting but we are in the midst of serious business. We do not need the pair of you derailing things with idiotic questions or suggestions," he warned them.

The girl was apparently amused by her brother if the faint curl of her lips was any indication. 'Or she could be holding back a snarl,' Sirius mused. "Sure, Sev," she said with false sweetness.

"Darla," snapped Snape, vexed, and bared his crooked teeth at the girl.

She lost the curl of her lips and her expression flipped with astonishing speed to solemn. "I understand, Severus," she told him.

Snape nodded and flickered his gaze over to the boy. In response, Stephen squared his shoulders and lifted his head. He croaked, "I do too, sir."

"Good," he said as he straightened himself out. He flexed the fingers of the hand nearest the little girl. Instinctively, the child latched on and Snape's fingers enveloped her diminutive hand. "You can introduce yourselves to others afterward and ask questions then," he told the pair. He then turned himself and the girl away from the two. "Come, Calliope, I hear Mrs. Weasley brought snacks and they are in the kitchen," he informed the little girl who was staring up at him with a placid expression. "That is where you will stay during the meeting."

Her demeanor changed at the news; a smile rounded out the apples of her cheeks and made her look nothing at all like Snape. "Okay!"

With faux casualness, Sirius placed his elbow on the table in front of him and, behind his raised hand, murmured to Remus who sat beside him, "Is that his youngest?"

"Yes," the other answered in little more than a whisper. Out of the corners of his eyes, Sirius saw his tawny, thin brows pull together in a disapproving manner. "Why she is here, I don't know."

He glanced over at the teenagers. They had their heads bent together and were chatting away with one another about something they must be passionate about. Sirius didn't know why Stephen would be waving around his hands like that otherwise. Sirius bet they knew why the littlest Snape was in attendance this evening. He tipped his chin in their direction. "Think we can ask?"

"…We can try," replied Remus after an uncomfortable bout of silence.

Sirius nodded. "Right," he said as he got to his feet.

With a sigh, Remus did the same. Sirius held still and let his mate take lead before they approached the teenagers. He was sure they'd be much more cooperative if it were him at the front than him.

Even if it was all lies, the kids knew him best as a deranged mass murderer. It would take time for them all to see he was nothing at all like what the papers made him out to be. Sliding his hands into the pockets of his pants, he hung back a step as Remus stopped before the two.

"Hello, Miss Snape, Mister Bones," he said.

The two couldn't have reacted more differently to Remus. Stephen's eyes shined and he leaned toward them, offering a hand to Remus. "Mister Lupin! Hello, sir," he babbled as Remus and he shared a friendly handshake.

Darla Snape watched the two with a flat, unimpressed look. When they were done, she was quick to tuck her hands in the wide sleeves of her dark blue robe before she said, "'Lo."

Remus's shoulders hitched slightly at her shortness but he pushed on with false cheer. "How are you two this evening?"

"I'm well," answered Stephen easily. When Darla didn't answer, he elbowed her and hissed, "Darla!"

The blonde rolled her eyes at her friend before she grumbled, "I'm fine too." Her eyes, just as black and piercing as her brother's, fixed themselves on Sirius. "You're Sirius Black, aren't you?"

He put a hand on Remus's back as he came to stand beside him. "I am," he answered Darla. He cocked his head and smirked not so nicely at the teenager. "Figure that one 'cause of the papers or your brother?"

The girl returned his smirk with a sneer. "Sev," she said. Jutting out her chin, she purred (threatened), "He's told me everything."

Sirius was not going to be cowed by a teenage witch. Sharpening his smirk into a fierce grin, he said, "You mean his side of everything."

Her eyes flashed but before the two could get into it, Remus cut in, "Sirius, stop it." In a kinder voice, he then told the agitated teenager, "Miss Snape, while I'm sure your brother was thorough in his explanation of our histories if there is anything he can't or won't clarify for you I and Sirius will gladly do our best to help you slot in the missing pieces."

She frowned at his offer. "I have no missing pieces," she proclaimed. Something like uncertainty flickered across her face. "Thanks, I guess, though," she grumbled before leaning back in her chair once more.

"You're welcome," replied Remus in a tone that Sirius swore was pleased.

Stephen cleared his throat, drawing all of their eyes to him. The boy smiled in a shy way at Sirius alone. "Uh, I bet people have already said this to you, but thank you for letting the Order use your house for a meeting place."

"Of course," he said. "I want to see You-Know-Who and his Death-Eaters defeated the same as you. They've stolen a lot from me, friends, family, over a decade of freedom…" he trailed off and shook his head. Now wasn't the time for ruminating. He and Remus were talking to the two to find an answer to their question. "Anyway," he began, "we were, ah, a little concerned about something."

"What?" asked Stephen with a guileless blink of his pecan-brown eyes.

Sirius focused his gaze on Darla, causing the witch to stiffen. "Why'd Sn— Erh, your brother bring your niece to the meeting?" he questioned. As she started to frown, he pointed out, "We all know the topics aren't going to be kid-friendly."

Darla glowered for a beat before she said, "Edie's ill and there's no one else to watch her."

Remus made a noise of perplexment. "Where are Eileen and Essie? Surely they could keep an eye on Calliope?"

"They're visiting mates," answered Darla. "Edie wouldn't let Severus call them home. She said Calliope would be fine coming with us. Being a room away from everyone with snacks and a book will keep her occupied for the couple of hours we're in the middle of a meeting."

Sirius raised his brows. Wasn't that interesting? He still thought there had to be other solutions other than bringing the girl here. He considered the witch. He wasn't sure further questions on the subject would end well for him and Remus. Instead, he tried to slip past the teen's defenses by murmuring an appraising, "She's well-behaved, eh?"

Darla giggled. It made her look like she was a schoolgirl still. "I wouldn't go that far," she replied with clear amusement.

Stephen leaned in close to his mate, brushing shoulders. "What do you think your brother is bribing her with?"

Remus stiffened beside Sirius as he echoed the word in disbelieving wonder, "Bribing?"

The teenagers ignored them. "The promise of a visit to Menagerie's," answered Darla with a smirk. With a dramatic huff and roll of her eyes, she told Stephen, "She's been obsessed with transforming rabbits as of late."

The young wizard hummed and rubbed his stubbled chin. "Think your brother and sister will buy her one?"

Darla shook her head. "Sev still hasn't found an allergy potion that agrees with Edie's stomach. So, no."

Stephen made a noise of understanding. "That's for the best," he remarked, eyes flashing with the start of what Sirius knew was mischief. "It'll keep her from growing up rotten like you."

Darla gasped. "Shut up, Stephen," she complained while elbowing him in the side.

He groaned dramatically. "Oi, I'm just telling the truth!"

"Prat," chirped Darla, smirking at her hunched mate.

The sound of an attention-grabbing clap filled the room. Sirius turned his head in the direction of the room. It was Albus. It seemed he had arrived whilst he and Remus were distracted by the teenagers. The old wizard smiled when he saw he'd caught the majority of the room's attention. "If everyone is ready, the meeting can begin now," he said.

Behind the tall man was Snape. His black eyes were hard when Sirius met them. Sirius was certain if he knew it wouldn't be traced back to him, Snape would set him on fire with a nonverbal spell. He hated how close Sirius and Remus were to his sister. Sirius didn't sneer but he did keep his return gaze steady as he nonchalantly walked over to the seat he abandoned some five minutes ago. Remus followed him, his own pace languid and head held high.

Snape might like to think of himself as an intimidating wizard but he and Remus weren't scared. They knew what he really was. Under all of that angry bluster was a snivelling prat. One just had to know how to bring it out. Once they did (like Sirius) he was about as frightening as a puffskein.

-o-O-o-

As the meeting quickly came up on the hour mark, Sirius got up from his seat. Remus sent him an assessing look but he settled his mate with a confident half-smile. A part of him knew he shouldn't leave. The group was no doubt due a break soon. Yet he couldn't help but need some air. So many of the plans they were making Sirius wasn't going to be able to partake in. During the first war, he was able to do so much for the Order. Now… the greatest thing he had to offer the group who'll save their world from Voldemort was his ancestral home for them to gather in.

It frustrated him. No, infuriated him. His fingers itched to wrap around Peter's neck. He was to blame for so many of Sirius's misfortunes. He should hate him with every ounce of his being yet he so hurt. Peter was a mate. One of his best mates and he—

Sirius staggered mid-step; mind churning with dozens of different feelings, regrets, and wishes. To help steady himself through the dizzying rush, Sirius went to clutch at the wall of the corridor he was pacing through on his way to… Well. Nowhere. Though going to the loo to wash his face and calm down might help him right now. Or maybe he could make a stop in his father's old study and steal a nip from the bottle of Firewhiskey he kept hidden in the bottom drawer of his desk.

That might be even more helpful.

While he deliberated, a voice coming from around his chest burbled, "Hello."

Sirius drew his wand instinctively as he spun to face the owner of the voice. "Fuck!" he swore upon meeting the gaze of Snape's wide-eyed sprog. "Erh, no, no, not f—uuh," he stammered as the little girl blinked at him.

The girl, Calliope, wrinkled her nose while he shakily repocketed his wand. "I know that word already," proclaimed the girl in an unbothered tone. "So Sev can't be cross at you for saying it."

He almost laughed at Calliope's declaration. If only that were true. "That's not going to matter to your dad," he told the child, tone uncomfortably close to hysterical. "What's going to matter is that not only did I swear in front of his seven-year-old, I'm talking to you." Sirius frowned. "Why are you talking to me?" he asked. Surely Snape warned her to stay the Hell away from him before he brought her here.

Calliope smiled. "'Cause!" she chirped, swinging her arms around energetically. It appeared to Sirius she was finding this all to be good fun. Sirius was beginning to feel a bit agitated himself.

As he stared down at her smiling face it dawned on Sirius what the little girl was up to. "Oh Merlin," he said. "You're trying to cause trouble," he accused as he took a wide step back from the girl.

Her smile broadened and she attempted to hide it behind her tiny fingers. "Noooo," she argued, stretching out the word.

Sirius gave the girl a sneer. However, before he could snap something cutting at her, a shadow came to loom over Snape's sprog. Sirius's heart thudded at the appearance and he jerked his eyes up just in time to see it was a nonplussed Darla that had come to a halt a hair's breadth behind her niece.

"Calliope, what are you doing?" she demanded, arms crossed.

The girl leaned back into her aunt and tilted her head all the way back; exposing her pale throat. "Hi, Darla," she said with faux-innocence.

Darla was not softened by the little girl's sweet tone. "Sev is going to have your pretty little head if he hears you left the kitchen," she informed Calliope.

"I'm bored," whined the girl as she slumped into a pile at her aunt's feet with a pout on her face.

The witch rolled her eyes. "What happened to your book?"

Calliope tugged her shoulders up toward her ears and cast her gaze down the hallway. "Finished it!" she declared.

Darla snorted. "That so? Where did Quintyn find the missing spellbook?"

Calliope's attention snapped back to her aunt. Lifting her head slightly, she looked at Darla with shifty eyes. Sirius could tell she was trying to figure out if it was a trick from her aunt's expression. "Um," she mumbled when she failed to parse out if it was a real question she had been asked or not.

"Yeah, thought so," Darla said to the little girl; a hand patted the top of her blonde head in what could only be described as both a patronizing and forgiving gesture. She then turned her attention to Sirius. "What the Hell are you doing?" she demanded.

His immediate reaction was to bristle. Sirius let himself. He didn't deserve such an accusing tone when he'd done nothing wrong. "This is my house," he reminded the teenager with jeering teeth.

Darla's return stare was level and unafraid. His snarl wasn't enough to make the witch even twitch. Sirius shouldn't have felt as cheated as he did. He remembered Snape very well from their Hogwarts days. The other wizard had some truly blood-freezing expressions in his repertoire.

"That doesn't mean you ought be anywhere near her," she proclaimed.

Sirius pointed from himself to the little girl, exasperated. "You think I did this on purpose?"

Darla squinted at him. "…Sev said you're a real brainless prick but no. Even if you have Black madness and have spent over a decade in Azkaban, you'd know better than to pick on a seven-year-old with her dad two rooms over."

"Damn right," he agreed before the whole weight of her answer registered. When it did, he felt blood start rushing in his ears as he raised his voice to tell the Snape girls, "Also let me tell you, I might be a prick, but your brother is a complete—"

"—Stop!" yelled the little girl, hands clamping over her ears.

Darla did flinch at the child's raised voice. "Whoah, whoah, Calliope," she murmured as she crouched down to gather her into a half-hug.

"Keep your voice down, kid!" he hissed at her, looking first left then right. Hoping as he did so that no one had heard her shout. If they had, Snape was going to appear in no time at all and start something.

"No fighting," Calliope whimpered from her aunt's arms; her brown eyes pleading.

Darla looked over at him, lips twisted in a disgruntled shape. "…Fine," she grumbled once he raised his brows at her.

He nodded. "Yeah, okay," he agreed. Shuffling in place a bit then, Sirius realized he should probably still get away from the girls. He'd been gone a while from the meeting. Darla had been too at this point. Snape was going to come looking for his sister sooner rather than later.

However, before he went, he should try a little to be responsible. His house really wasn't safe for adventurous seven-year-olds to explore. Stooping a bit, he called to the little girl, "Hey, Calliope?"

"Yes?"

Putting on what he hoped was a serious and strict look, he said, "You really need to stay in the kitchen. I'm working on making this place habitable for people again but I've got some infestations and things I'm trying to clean out of some rooms. I think there might even be a ghoul hiding in one of the upstairs bedrooms."

She gasped, eyes pinging from him to her aunt. "Really?" she demanded in a tone that was almost eager rather than scared.

Darla groaned. "Why'd you tell her that?" she demanded. "Now she's going to want to look for it!"

"…Most kids are kind of afraid of them?" he replied as he stood up, feeling discombobulated as he met the pouting teenager's eyes.

"Not this one," Darla said, giving her niece a fond squeeze.

"Right," replied Sirius. He stroked his beard. "She responds to bribes?" he questioned, recalling Darla and Stephen's conversation from earlier.

The little girl spoke for herself. "What kind?" she demanded.

"I'll take that as a yes," said Sirius with an amused smirk. He took a moment to breathe in before he pinned the girl with a shrewd stare. "Okay, Calliope, here's the deal, there's probably a puzzle or game I can dredge out of my brother's old room. If you stay in the kitchen like you're supposed to, you can not only play with it but keep it when it's time for you to go home."

The girl stared back at him for a beat, apparently deliberating. She then thrust out a hand, making him step back. "Shake," she ordered.

Sirius chuckled. "All right," he agreed as he took her tiny hand in his own and gave it a deliberate shake.

The moment he let her go, Darla whisked herself and the child to their feet. Shoving Calliope behind her and back toward the kitchen, she said, "Wicked. Now, come on Calliope, back to the kitchen."

"I'm going!" the little girl huffed before taking agency over her own body and flouncing off to whence she came.

When it was just himself and Darla, he commented, "Tyke's cheeky."

Darla rolled her eyes. "You should have seen Lottie at that age," she muttered with a sad fondness before turning serious once more. "Anyway, what do you want to not mention this to Sev, Mr. Black?"

He furrowed his brows. "What?"

She huffed, seeming to find his confusion irritating. "What do you want in exchange for not telling Sev about Calliope wandering?" she asked. "My brother and sister are very strict these days about the girls not roaming. Calliope was bored and I can't blame her for that. Sev won't be so understanding if he finds out. I have plans to take the little ones out for some fancy treats this weekend and I don't want to have to leave her at home because Sev and Edie decide to revoke her going out privileges."

Sirius considered the teenager. "You're going to spoil that girl," he warned.

She sniffed at his chiding. "That's my right as her aunt," she said as she crossed her arms.

Wary, Sirius stuck his hand in the pocket he had his wand in and fiddled with the hilt between his fingers. "I don't want anything from you," he told Darla. "Just… Just don't mention to your brother I talked to her. Get her to keep quiet too. I'm positive he'll start frothing at the mouth if he hears I even said hello to her."

She exhaled in relief and frustration. "You're not wrong," she complained.

Sirius looked the teenager up and down a moment, not quite ready to leave. He had things he wanted to know. This might be one of the few chances he had to ever get answers from one of Snape's girls. "He told you about the time I scared him during our fifth year, didn't he?" he questioned.

Darla's face went from slightly sulky to hostile. "That was attempted murder, Black," she growled.

He scowled at the teenager. "Merlin, you're as dramatic as him," he said.

Her eyes fluttered wide. "Dramatic?" she hissed, hands clenching into fists and leaning forward.

Sirius didn't draw his wand, but he gripped it firmly in his pocket.

Darla noticed and immediately backed out of his space, tossing her head side to side. "You know what?" she said, "we don't have time for this. You promised my niece a puzzle and Sev is expecting a report on how Calliope is doing."

Sirius cleared his throat. The teenager was right. There was no time to argue about the past. Nor who was the more honest teller of it. "Yes, we don't have time," he agreed through his teeth. He jerked his head in the direction Calliope had gone. "Go on," he urged. "I won't be more than a couple of minutes."

She glared at him before reluctantly turning away. As she disappeared back into the other room, Darla looked over her shoulder with eyes that swore a lot of things if he didn't keep his promise.

He has met the first of the girls. Feelings?

Thank you so much for reading!