Riding on brooms with boys

by FrankieQuinn13

It's hard trying to understand something that you've been raised to hate. Ron decides to break the status quo just once, what happens in those few moments will change the course of his life forever and all in the space of just six months. Full summary, pairings and warnings inside. Slash, canon divergence, mpreg etc

10. Chapter 10

A/N: Hey guys, it's been a while!

For those reading this on my FF dot N account, I've been experiencing some problems with the site. Mainly the fact that it doesn't email me when I get reviews, I don't know if anyone else has this problem.

I suggest following this story on my AO3 account. I've been adding extra stuff to the site about Riding on Brooms with Boys too and fixing mistakes that I find on there so, yeah.

Anyway, on with the show.

Usual apologies. Also inaccuracies, I take some liberties with the patronus spell. Also for the sake of this story, Narcissa and Severus were the same age and in the same year at school. That'll be important for later

Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Lily's Diary

03 March 1969

School was boring today. We didn't really do much besides school work. Hanna and Lizzy didn't want to play hide and seek. Sarah just wanted to read. The boys didn't want any girls playing with them, so Timmy didn't want to play with me either.

At break I went to go sit with Tuney. She's been nicer to me. At first, I thought it was because of this boy at school. His name is Vernon. He really likes Tuney a lot but she doesn't seem to like him much. She says he's ofis oafish and obtuse. I'm not sure what that means. But then Tuney told me she was happy because of another boy. She said she doesn't know his name and he doesn't go to our school. I asked her why she liked him, Tuney said he was brooding and mysterious. She said she saw him at the park down the road sitting all by himself. I asked her if she talked to him. She got red and said not to be crass. A lady should never be the one to make the first move. That's what Tuney said.

I don't really understand it. If you like someone, you should talk to them shouldn't you? When I like someone, I try to talk to them lots. Like Hanna and Lizzy. When I told Tuney that she just looked at me like I was stupid and said it wasn't the same.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The rest of the day was relatively uneventful. Ron was grateful for that much. He tried to forget about the mess from that morning and just stayed focused on classes and assignments and Harry seemed to be doing his part to keep him sufficiently distracted as well. Neville came to check in with him just after lunch. Ron gave him a very brief summary on what happened, making sure to skip some of the details concerning his mother. He already went through all of that with Harry already, Ron didn't feel up to dredging up all the emotions that he'd finally managed to lock away since that morning.

If Neville noticed that he was omitting some things he didn't mention it. He changed the subject, told Ron about some plants and herbs he read about that could help with pregnancy and Ron told him that he'd be fine with Snape's potions for now. Dinner rolled around quickly enough and Ron hoped to finally get the chance to talk to Hermione. Honestly it felt like forever since he spoke to the bushy haired girl and for once, a bit of her usual nagging seemed like a great way to help everything feel normal again. Plus, he needed to tell her about what's been going on and his possible resort. But just as he was about to enter the Great Hall for dinner, Ron caught sight of Blaise leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets as they approached the large door.

The Slytherin looked up and then nodded his head to the side. Ron paused.

"Ron?"

He looked over to Harry to see the raven frowning as he watched Zabini walk off away from the hall, "What's he want?"

"Dunno." Ron let out a sigh, "I should probably go check."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"I'll go with you."

"No, it's fine. He probably just wants to talk about the baby." Ron said with a slight smile as he turned back to follow behind the Slytherin, "I'll catch up in a bit."

Harry was still frowning but relented, "Alright. See you in a bit."

Ron smiled at that. Harry's always so protective. He really doesn't deserve to have such good friends. He followed Blaise all the way to an abandoned classroom not too far away from the Great Hall and slipped inside just after the Slytherin did.

Ron paused once he shut the door behind him. He paused because he found the Slytherin staring right at him the second he turned around. Those deep brown eyes gleaming with concern though he stayed where he was, leaning against the dusty table at the front of the class.

"Hey."

Ron stood still, "Hey."

"Are you feeling alright?"

The redhead frowned, "Don't I look alright?"

"No," Blaise looked like he wanted to roll his eyes, "I meant after what happened this morning. We didn't share any classes today, so I was wondering."

And then Ron swallowed hard, "I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Ron said feeling slightly irritated. Again, he already went through all of this with Harry, gave Neville a slightly edited version. He didn't feel like going through it all with Blaise, especially not since he'd be going through it with Hermione later. Especially since Blaise was there and saw everything that morning anyway.

"Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"No." Blaise answered simply, "Before she left, mother asked me to ask if there was anything specific you needed."

"Anything I needed?"

Blaise shrugged as he sat up onto the table a bit more, "She said she'd be able to think of anything you might need for the baby, but if you need anything for yourself you should owl her directly and she'll have it sent."

Ron paused, shifting awkwardly in front of the door, "I'm fine, I don't need anything."

"Really?"

"Snape's making me potions for the baby and, it's not here yet so I don't really need anything else." Then a thought popped into his head, "Snape said to bring you with me next time to see him." Ron let out a sigh, "He wants to get samples or whatever. He said he'll be able to make better potions for the baby if he does."

Blaise nodded, "Alright, when do you want to go?"

"I-..." Ron went blank for a moment, "I still have some of the potion that he already made for me so, I don't know... Tomorrow night?"

"That's fine. Then again, that might not be necessary tomorrow."

"Why not?"

The Italian arched a brow at him, "You might get resorted tomorrow anyway, remember?"

At that Ron let out a sigh, "Right, but... but that doesn't mean I'll end up in Slytherin."

"Mother has her heart set on it you know."

"Yeah, well, I'm perfectly fine in Gryffindor and like the headmaster said, I probably won't get resorted anyway." Ron said folding his arms over his chest and Blaise scoffed, Ron rolled his eyes, "Why does your mother even want me in Slytherin anyway?"

"She knows professor Snape. I think they were both in school together at one point." Blaise shrugged, "She said she'll feel better about it if you're under his care."

"Yeah well, I'm fine-"

"I'd feel better about it too." Blaise suddenly said and Ron just stared back at him.

"What?"

"I-..." Blaise looked over towards the black board for a moment, "I'd feel better about it, if you were close by. If you're both close by."

"Why?"

"Who knows." The Slytherin scoffed, "I've never really thought about it you know. Having a family, having children, not seriously anyway. I thought I'd have a few more years before I really had to consider it but... You're here now and the baby is going to be here and-" Blaise finally looked back at Ron and a small smile spread over his lips, "I'm oddly excited."

Ron blinked, "Oh."

"I want you close because it'll make me feel better, to have you close." Blaise cleared his throat, "Slytherin from fifth year onwards have the option to get their own dorm rooms. Up till now I've been rooming with Draco and Theo. But Mum said that we could get a room together, if you want."

It was ridiculous, but Blaise seemed a bit awkward as he spoke so unsure that Ron felt his face flush in response.

Stupid stupid face-

"Trying to get me in your bed again aye?" He couldn't help but joke, Blaise let out a bark of laughter.

"Among other things." He said and-goddamnit! The stupid prat had no right sounding so smooth when he'd been so awkward just a few moments before. Blaise shook his head, "It would mean declaring this, whatever it is that we're doing right now, a courtship, though."

"I... That's moving a bit fast." Ron said quietly, more to himself than to Blaise and the Slytherin sat up a bit straighter

"We don't have to move in together right now, but I think..." Blaise let out a sigh, "For the sake of it, I should do the courtship thing. People are going to find out about the baby anyway, at least this way it won't be as much of a shock."

"I-"

"And we said we were going to try this right?" Blaise asked as he got off the table and started walking towards the redhead, "Why not just... make it official?"

Ron looked down at his feet and took in a deep breath, "When?"

"Tomorrow morning, after the resort. Whether you stay in Gryffindor or go somewhere else. I can ask professor Snape and he can ask the headmaster to make the announcement tomorrow."

Ron's eyes went wide, "You're going to do it in front of the whole school?!"

"That's how a declaration works." Blaise said clearly.

"But-... we'll what if I don't want the courtship thing?"

Blaise paused, "I can't make you agree to it."

"Alright and-and what happens if I don't agree to it?"

"Nothing. At least not until the baby is born."

"What happens when the baby is born?"

Blaise seemed to hesitate, "I want to be part of the baby's life and... you want to be part of the baby's life as well."

"So?"

"Since you're the bearer in this situation and we aren't married or engaged or in an official courtship. The ministry would label you my..."

"Your what?"

"My mistress." Blaise finished. Ron balked.

"Absolutely not! No fucking way!"

"Ron-"

"Why do I have to be the mistress?!"

"You're the bearer and, my family's standing in the wizarding community is just higher than yours at this point."

Ron stared back at him incredulously before shaking his head, "No, no no no-"

"It's just a title, don't be dramatic."

"I'm not being dramatic."

Blaise sighed, "I know, it's not ideal. And neither of us is really sure what this is but... I don't see the problem in just having this all out in the open. It's going to come out anyway, at least this way, we have control over how and when."

Ron wanted to argue again... but he couldn't. Blaise was right and he hated it.

He shut his eyes, dragged a hand through his hair.

"You want to do it tomorrow."

"If we do it after the resort, it'll at least give people a reason for why you resorted."

"And if I'm not resorted?"

Ron jumped and looked up when he felt a hand on the side of the face to find Zabini giving him the worlds softest smile.

"Well, it's been annoying you know, sneaking about instead of just walking up to you." The Slytherin leaned in and pressed a kiss on Ron's forehead causing him to flush, "This time tomorrow, I'll be able to do that whenever I want."

Merlin's saggy bollocks!

Ron's flush burned darker and he quickly shrugged the other's hand off, annoyed that this stupid prat could still be so smooth even at a time like this.

"What about Malfoy?"

"What about Malfoy?"

Ron rolled his eyes, "You know what. He hates me and I absolutely hate him. What happens when he finds out about this?"

"Who cares?"

"He's your mate, isn't he?"

"Like I said before, Draco doesn't tell me who to associate with and he has no place telling me who I can or can't shag or-"

"Put up the duff?"

Blaise actually laughed at that one his smile growing a bit more, Ron couldn't help but smile himself. "Not that either. Besides, you're carrying my child, practically a Zabini yourself at this point. Unless he plans on dealing with my mother, he won't dare say a word about it."

Ron scoffed and shook his head when Blaise spoke again.

"Ron, I know things are going a bit... mad right now but if nothing else, I promise we'll be O.K."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He walked into the hospital wing, noting with a silent sigh of relief that there didn't seem to be any other students in there for the moment. By far, this was his least favourite part of the castle, especially back when he was in school.

Anytime he ended up in the medical wing, it was because he was sick with a cold or because of a potions accident or, more likely, because one of his many school tormentors tried some new method of making his life miserable and this time he wasn't able to do anything to heal himself. The one bright spark of the whole experience had been Poppy, she was always trying so hard to help, even when Severus stubbornly refused her aid; even when the situation restricted her from doing too much. Even if the place was associated with some of his worst memories, at the very least, this is one of the few places where he actually felt safe.

"Severus?" Poppy called as she came from her office, she must have heard him come in through the door, "I was expecting you to come in eventually. I was hoping that you'd come in sooner."

"And why is that?" Severus asked once he had reached her standing at the end of the last row of beds closest to her office. She gave him a very dull look.

"Ron Weasley, what else?" and Severus resisted the urge to sigh again. Right, he'd almost forgotten about that mess. He kept his face perfectly composed as always. "I already gave the boy the needed potions, instructed him on how to take them and to return once they'd finished."

"I know that." She said dismissively, "He came in here yesterday with... the other father."

"Blaise Zabini?" Severus said in a bored tone and Poppy blinked.

"You know?"

"Unfortunately." the professor drawled and the mediwitch rolled her eyes, "Alright, there's no need to be so difficult about it. It's a very complex situation for such a young pair."

"Well they should have thought of those complications before buggering on school grounds."

"Severus-"

"I'm not here to discuss Weasley and Zabini, Poppy. For the moment the situation is unfolding on its own and I'm quite satisfied with leaving it as it is. That can wait." Severus took in a deep silent breath, trying not to think about Zabini following him out of the hall and asking if his head of house could have the announcement for his courtship arranged. Merlin, these brats are going to drive him insane. "I'm here to ask about something else."

"Ask about what?"

Severus looked around the room, there's no one there yet but, it wouldn't do to tempt fate.

"Some privacy is needed for this I'm afraid."

Poppy frowned before turning around to lead him back to her office. A rather small space, but still quite neat. Rows and rows of books filled the bookcase right behind her while five cabinets stood on either side of the room, filled with the students files. There was a door to the left that Severus knew held extra equipment that Poppy sometimes used. There was a desk in the middle with a lamp lighting up the whole room and two trays with parchment and other paperwork set neatly to one side. A roll of parchment, ink pot and quill right in front of her. She sat down in the plush leather seat behind the table and Severus sat in one of the two in front.

Memories came back to him of his very first year, the first time he ended up in the hospital wing and she'd seen... she saw the scars on his back and arms. The first time he encountered an authority figure that seemed to actually see what was happening and wanted to help, unfortunately there was only so much Poppy could do for him at the time. So eventually Severus stopped coming into this office as a child. Those were unwanted memories, oddly appropriate memories all things considered.

"What seems to be the problem?" She asked after she'd settled into her chair and charmed a locking spell on the door and a privacy spell as well.

Severus took in another deep breath, "Potter."

Poppy rolled her eyes to the high heavens and let out a long-suffering sigh, "Oh honestly Severus, if you're here to complain about Harry again-"

"I'm here to inquire about his well-being."

"His well-being?" Poppy frowned, "As far as I know, Harry's fine."

"Poppy." Severus started looking right into her eyes, "You know what my situation at home was. About my... situation when I was away from Hogwarts." She seemed to sit up a bit straighter at that, "I'm asking if Potter's situation is in anyway similar to mine."

She kept her gaze on his own for another moment before reaching for her wand to cast yet another silencing spell and lock the floo in her office. Before she set it down.

"You know?"

"So it's true?" Severus felt his stomach drop, she sighed as she put her hands together on the desk.

"His situation isn't quite as severe as yours was, but... it is similar."

"How similar?"

"Malnutrition, a few signs of neglect, as far as physical abuse is concerned, again, nothing quite as bad as yours but I found a few healed fractures, old mostly faded scars. I've managed to reverse most of the worst, his bones are much stronger now, he's picked up a good amount of weight... Harry refuses to speak about it." Poppy sighed, "He never says anything particularly pleasant about his aunt or uncle but he never says anything damning either."

"Albus knows?"

"Albus knows everything, Severus, you know that." Poppy sighed, "From what I can tell things have been better since he started school. Again, he refuses to speak of it. But he used to come in after the summer holidays, before he started spending them at the Weasleys. I'd find a few bruises and such but, there's none of that now. Albus insists that it's for the best, he says he spoke with the Dursleys and so the behaviour has improved and... you know there's only so much he allows me to do." Her lips pursed and Severus actually sighed out loud as he dragged a hand through his hair.

"Dear Circe."

Poppy looked up at him, "How did you find out?"

"An... anonymous source. I'd rather not say." Severus resisted the urge to slump in his seat, "You didn't tell me."

Poppy shook her head, "Considering your history with his parents, I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate. You made your distaste of Harry on the very first day very clear Severus... and Albus insisted that he had everything under control. He all but swore me to secrecy on the matter."

"And you agreed to it?"

"Like I said before, Harry refuses to speak about it. There's only so much that can be done if an abuse victim doesn't admit to the abuse, you know that." She sighed, "In a way, I thought you two would make your way towards one another eventually. What with the way you are with your little snakes in general and Mr Malfoy in specific."

Severus paused at that and just stared back at her. It's true, he had a tendency to pay closer attention to students. Keep a more watchful eye on students that displayed symptoms of abuse and neglect, but that's mostly because most of those students ended up sorted into Slytherin anyway.

Angry, frustrated, confused, deeply hurt. Desperate for a better life than what they had and so almost reckless in that pursuit of better and just... safe. That's what a large portion of students that ended up sorted into Slytherin were like. Desperation and hurt twisted and deformed into ruthless ambition. That's what a lot of his snakes were like when they first arrived. Severus paid attention to those students, he was a bit softer towards them. And with so many other students coming in as the children of Death Eaters Severus made it somewhat of a policy, if ever anyone in his house needed help they knew to come to him.

As for students in other houses, if Severus didn't notice something himself then Poppy would usually draw his attention towards them. Even though-

Like Poppy, his hands were tied in many respects. But he could sign a letter of request for students to spend holidays like Easter and Christmas at school due to necessary extra lessons. He could arrange for extra school robes and clothes to be provisioned due to unfortunate potions accidents that required a set of replacement robes. Had graduating and advanced students leave their textbooks behind for students that may have misplaced their own and required a replacement. Little things, maybe things that don't seem like they matter but Severus thought, if he'd had at least that much at school then maybe things wouldn't have been so bad.

With Draco, of course, the circumstances were a bit different.

When Narcissa insisted on having Severus as Draco's godfather, Lucius hadn't been pleased. The only reason he allowed it was because of Severus' bloodline, the last heir for the house of Prince. He was a fitting addition to Draco's lineage, even if the Princes themselves wanted nothing to do with him. The fact that Severus had managed to get into the Dark Lord's inner circle despite being a half-blood also helped things along.

Narcissa's reasons for wanting Severus to be Draco's godfather however, were a little more complicated than that.

Severus sighed, "You're sure that Potter's situation has improved."

"From what I can tell in his physical examinations, however I feel like most of the abuse he suffered was emotional. So in a way, it's almost impossible to tell and with everything he's going through here at school." Poppy shook her head with a sigh, "May I ask what you plan on doing about this Severus, if you plan on doing anything at all?"

"You think I wouldn't?"

"You have a very tense history with his parents Severus." Poppy said, her voice suddenly going soft, "It's one of the reasons I didn't try to speak with you on this matter. Some wounds are slow to heal. Pushing you towards Harry might have done more harm than good. I didn't want to force you. You don't deserve that and neither does he."

Severus couldn't deny that so he didn't argue against it.

"What're you going to do?"

"Only what I can. That's all I can promise."

Poppy doesn't know about the vow and Severus planned on keeping it that way. It wouldn't do to burden the woman with more knowledge than she absolutely needed.

"I'm sure you'll do your best Severus."

Severus sighed as he got up, "Thank you Poppy-"

"Wait! Severus... I-" the woman got up and walked around her desk, there was something odd in her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Do you mind?" She started a bit awkwardly as she came to a stop right beside him and then gestured to his left arm, "Your mark."

Severus resisted the intense urge to tense up, "What about it?"

"May I have a look? Just one more time." She asked softly and Severus wanted to frown.

"Why?"

"I just... I'd like to see it, please." She said and Severus still didn't understand.

But he trusted Poppy. She's one of the few people in this world that he genuinely trusts. One of the few that's always been honest with him. That he's ever been able to be honest with. Severus took in a deep breath and then pushed up the sleeve of his robes to expose his left arm before turning it over to expose the dark mark. To this day, he's still uncomfortable looking directly at it. Why Poppy suddenly wanted to see it is beyond him.

"There it is." She said as she reached out but stopped herself before she could, "May I?"

Severus nodded, she reached out and took his hand and-

She seemed to ignore the dark mark completely and focused on a completely different mark instead. It was barely noticeable if you didn't know what to look for. An intricate chain pattern going around his left wrist with small silver dots in the spaces in between the golden weaving.

He's had it since-

How long has he had it? Before he graduated from Hogwarts. Severus can't really remember where he got the mark. One day his wrist was normal, the next day it was just there. He tried to remove it on multiple occasions. Used several healing spells and creams and potions, disappearing ointments and the like. Severus figured it might have been the aftereffects of a potion that he brewed in his youth, but it never came off.

It wasn't particularly harmful though. Not painful or anything like that-

Well, that's not entirely true.

It did hurt on two different occasions. A long time ago, the mark had throbbed and ached for several days before the pain just suddenly stopped. The first time was after he got the Dark Mark. The second happened with the supposed defeat of the dark lord. On both of those nights, the dark mark had forced every manner of painful sensation down his arm, so he dismissed it as simply being caused by Voldemort's bond. He hardly ever thought of the golden mark. Always wore long-sleeved shirts and robes. He never had a reason to pay too close attention to it, even though-

Receiving the dark mark took some time, it was supposed to hurt. Severus knew this from the few times that he'd witnessed others receiving the mark before and after he did. But, when he received the dark mark, it had taken unusually long; the pain had been excruciating and the Dark Lord seemed to have a difficult time of getting his mark to finally set. Every time the snakes had tried to carve themselves into his skin they screeched and hissed with fury until finally, they finally set in. Voldemort had looked oddly drained afterwards, almost enraged.

He noticed that the Dark Lord seemed irritated just about every time he made Severus expose his arm and saw that mark on his wrist. He remembers how Lucius had questioned him for ages on exactly where he got it and why he didn't inform the blonde when he got it. Severus hadn't been able to answer him. After torturing Severus under crucio for what had felt like hours he eventually realised that the raven-haired man was telling the truth. Though even that realisation seemed to confuse and irritate him. He asked Regulus a long time ago, asked Narcissa what the mark meant. Why the Dark lord seemed so irritated by it. Why Lucius seemed so utterly betrayed when he first saw it.

Regulus never answered him.

Narcissa asked-

"You really have no idea where it came from?"

"No."

Then she pulled Severus into the tightest hug. A display of affection that both tried to avoid whenever possible, so when she hugged him Severus had felt a sense of dread wash over him.

"Don't let anyone else see it." She whispered and Severus felt something tug hard in his chest at her words.

But Poppy knew about it. He knew that she saw it on one of his many visits to the hospital wing in school.

Poppy's fingers ran over the mark, a soft sad smile spread over her lips her eyes filling with similar sadness.

"Don't you ever wonder Severus? How different things might have been? If only, they hadn't gone so wrong."

Severus frowned, "Poppy?"

"Merlin, eighteen years is a long time isn't it? More than enough time for things to go terribly wrong." She sighed let her finger run over the mark one more time before she reached up to pull his sleeve down for him. Pointedly not looking at the dark mark as she did. That's when the thought came to ask her.

"Poppy, what is it?"

"What's what?"

"The mark, what does it mean?"

"Severus it's been years, there's no need to be so cruel." She shook her head and scoffed as she fixed his cuff, "I understand if you're still upset but, that doesn't mean you can pretend like you don't remember."

"I'm not pretending. I don't know where that mark came from." He said clearly.

The older woman blinked and stared up at him in confusion, "What... Severus. Don't you remember?"

"Remember what?"

"That night, when you came in with-"

Just then bright calming light entered and enveloped the room as a phoenix Patronus flew in through the door and landed on the chair behind the desk.

"Poppy, a word if you will. I wasn't able to contact you through the floo."

Poppy looked back at the spectre before it vanished and she let out a sigh. "I can only imagine what this would be about." Then she looked up at Severus with a frown. "But Severus... we'll speak later."

"I-"

"Please."

He let out a soft breath, "Fine. I might be occupied for tonight. I'll come see you tomorrow."

"Good."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rabastan was quiet. Well... he's always quiet but this time there was something odd in his silence. This odd sort of tension building in the air.

"Lord Lestrange." Lee said once he got himself settled and Rabastan just stared back at him in silence. Briefly he remembered Edward words come back to him. Briefly he wondered if he didn't have enough for the article. As far as the puff piece singing Azkaban's praises went then yeah, he had more than enough. But as for everything else... well-

"What did Rodolphus tell you?"

Lee blinked when the other man suddenly spoke, "What?"

"My brother, you went to see him. What did he tell you?"

"Why do you care?"

Rabastan didn't reply. Lee simply cleared his throat as he looked down at his notes.

"Are you ready to start?"

Rabastan still didn't respond. But that's fine, that's not the question he needs answered anyway.

"Tell me about your first kill."

Rabastan blinked, "What?"

"The first time you took a life, tell me what happened." Lee said simply and the man's eyes narrowed down at him.

"Why?"

"Why not? You said it happened while you were in Hogwarts, didn't you?"

Rabastan leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table, "I thought you didn't believe me?"

Lee shrugged, "Here's your opportunity to convince me."

Rabastan suddenly got up from his seat and started pacing. That much Lee was used to at this point, he didn't even flinch.

"You don't want to know about the Longbottoms?"

"No."

Rabastan stopped in his tracks to look at the boy, "No?"

"I want to know about Hogwarts." Lee said looking the other right in the eye as he said it. It was tense and quiet between them for what couldn't have been longer than eight seconds but somehow felt like eternity. Rabastan suddenly moved again and went back to his seat to sit down.

"You know about Hogwarts."

"I want to know what you know." Lee countered easily and Rabastan scoffed, though there seemed to be no humour in it. "I asked your brother, he said he doesn't know why you did it. Said to ask you if I wanted to know."

"And you want to know?"

"I'm asking, aren't I?"

Rabastan then leaned back in his seat, "You're getting very comfortable with my brother these days, aren't you?"

"Why would you care if I was?" Lee asked and Rabastan looked away.

"Tell me little mudblood, who would you prefer for a master." Rabastan leaned forward again with his elbows resting on the table, a smirk spreading across his lips, "Me or Rodolphus?"

Lee blinked, he almost hesitated at the question. It caught him off guard and his mind almost went blank for a moment. And almost as if his own thoughts were mocking him, he suddenly remembered his last meeting with the older Lestrange. He remembered how he went closer to the prison bars and let the man touch him and-

Lee took in a silent breath. This is just another game, he reminded himself. That must mean he's getting somewhere.

"Why would you care? I thought I wasn't your type."

"You're not."

"Then why bother asking?" Rabastan said nothing. Lee set his quill down and leaned forward in the same way, "I'd choose you, is that what you want me to say?" Lee made sure he didn't look away, made sure his eyes stayed locked on the dark eyes of the inmate before him, "Or would you prefer it if I said it another way? What if I said, that I wanted you to do to me what you did to that boy in Chelsea?"

Something flashed behind those dark eyes, something that made Rabastan's jaw clench and his hands tighten where he had them on his arms. Lee caught the movement but didn't comment on it as he just leaned back in his seat and picked up his quill again.

"Rodolphus said he was in Slytherin."

"What?"

Lee had to fight back hard against the urge to smirk when he realised that he finally managed to catch the other off guard. "The boy you killed in Hogwarts, Rodolphus said he was in Slytherin. Is that true?"

Rabastan was quiet, "Yes."

"What happened?"

"Does it matter what happened?" Rabastan said as he finally let go of his arms and set them on the table, "I'm an evil Death Eater. Why do I suddenly need a reason to kill someone?"

"You weren't a Death Eater back then."

"That makes a difference?"

"Doesn't it?" Lee shrugged, "I just find it surprising. An evil Death Eater, killing since the age of fourteen but... you've only managed to kill three people?"

"And?"

"The records say Rodolphus has killed at least ten."

"I'm not competing with my brother."

"That's what he tells me."

"He tells you a lot of things, doesn't he?"

"He doesn't try to lie to me, I appreciate the honesty." Lee could see Rabastan's jaw clench and his head gave a tilt, "I don't really understand why you're being so evasive. I thought you liked gloating about your atrocities, but you refuse to speak about your first kill."

Rabastan looked away towards the wall.

"How about a name? Do you remember his name? What year he was in?"

Rabastan stayed silent Lee let out a sigh of frustration when-

"Jeffrey Corbin, fourth year."

The words were said so quietly Lee might have missed them if the room wasn't so quiet itself.

"What happened?"

"We were in the dungeons. There was blood everywhere." Rabastan was still staring at the wall, but his eyes had gone glassy and vacant. The one hand he had on the table clenched to the point where Lee could see the knuckles turning white.

"What did you do?"

Rabastan frowned, his eyes seemed to strain as he stared at a point in the wall.

"The dungeons must have been dark, quiet. Did you lure him down there?" Lee's tone dropped, almost afraid that if he raised his voice something hovering just there in the air around them would break.

"No." He shook his head slightly, "We were supposed to meet. He wanted to tell me something, something important."

"He trusted you-"

"He was so excited, confused." Rabastan scoffed, "He'd been a pain in the arse all day because there was a secret he just had to tell me. I ignored him at first because I thought he was just going to go on and on about that mudblood girl again, but he said it was something else."

"Did he ever tell you?"

"No... there was so much blood."

"Where did the blood come from?"

No response.

On impulse Lee got up from his seat and took Rabastan's clenched had in his own. Those dark eyes snapped up to meet his own and Lee almost tensed at the emotion he saw there, they then snapped down to the hand covering his own and Lee belatedly realised-

Azkaban magic, the inmates can't touch you even if they try, the warden had said. Lee never bothered to ask if you could touch the inmates.

But he could.

Rabastan's hand felt cold in his own, tense and clenched tight. He swallowed hard looked up at the older man.

He could touch them.

Without even thinking about it he'd practically climbed on top of the table with one knee braced on the steel surface and put his other hand on the side of Rabastan's face. The older man tensed, eyes snapping up to lock onto his own mere inches away.

"Rabastan." He whispered and Rabastan shut his eyes, letting out a deep sigh as he leaned into Lee's touch and he lifted his other hand to the other side of Rabastan's face. And then another thought came to mind as h leaned in closer, their lips now barely touching. "Master, please... tell me what happened."

A shuddering sigh.

"I don't know."

"What?"

Rabastan's eyes snapped open to lock onto his own, something desperate and confused swimming in those dark eyes.

"I don't remember."

Lee frowned, "How-"

The door opened. Lee quickly pulled away and moved back to his seat the second he heard the groan of the steel panel sliding open.

"Times up."

He's never moved so fast before in his life. Rabastan was still staring at him. Expression blank with his hand resting on the table.

Lee looked back at the guards, the one in the back only stared back at him while the one at the front seemed to frown at him. He quickly cleared his throat and started to collect his things.

"We'll continue this some other time Lord Lestrange."

Rabastan didn't respond, Lee resisted the urge to look at him as he turned and left the room. The door shut behind him and the guards started to lead him away, his mind still whirling with what just happened. A hand came down to rest on his lower back and Lee jumped, he looked up into unfamiliar blue eyes, for the first time noticing the edges of magic around the man's face.

"Are you alright?"

The voice was familiar.

Edward.

Lee swallowed hard and looked away, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Edward's lips pursed for a moment before he simply looked ahead and kept leading the younger man away, his hand stayed on Lee's lower back and Lee couldn't but feel...

Lee didn't know what he felt.

"I don't know... I don't remember."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They were huddled in the library, at a table a bit further back. Privacy charms cast curtesy of Hermione, a silencing charm by Harry. Ron sat between the two at the round table, transfiguration texts and unfinished notes in front of him. He couldn't exactly focus on Transfiguration at the moment.

Ron was feeling... a lot of things.

After talking to Blaise he made it back to dinner. Hermione asked him why he was late, he told her that he'd explain everything later after dinner. Hermione seemed to purse her lips in annoyance but otherwise didn't argue before she started babbling on about their next charms essay. Harry tugged at his sleeve and whispered as he asked what Blaise wanted. Ron gave a sigh and told him to wait like Hermione.

"I'll explain after dinner."

Dinner's over now, they're in the library.

First they went over the situation with the baby, specifically, Ron went over why he decided that he was going to keep the baby while Hermione gave every reason for why it would be better if he gave it up for adoption. Ron... didn't get it.

Of course he understands why she'd be worried. Having a child is a huge responsibility. He knows that. He's still in school. Ron is very aware of that as well. Providing for the child would be significantly more difficult if his family didn't help him. He knew that as well.

But it still felt odd how persistent she was about the adoption thing. Eventually he manged to get her to quiet down about it after he told her that the other father knew and his family was more than willing to help him care for the child... which is when he had to tell her who the other father was and exactly why he was late for dinner.

Everything about what happened in Dumbledore's office with his mum, and dad and Percy and lady Zabini and Blaise and then his talk with Blaise just before he showed up for dinner-

"So... you're really keeping it."

"Yes."

"And you're going to resort?" She asked almost incredulously as she stared down at the notes in front of her before looking up at the red head, "But Ron, you can't."

Ron sighed, "Apparently, thanks to Blaise's Mum, I can."

"I still don't understand how she can make you do that." Harry said with a sigh of his own as he glared at his textbook.

"Pureblood politics," Hermione said vaguely even as her eyes narrowed down at her notes in the most annoyed way, "The Zabinis standing is higher than the Weasleys. Because Ron is technically carrying her grandchild, she can use that connection to invoke the blood rights over Ron. Make him do whatever she wants as long as she deems it necessary to keep him safe and cared for. It's an old type of magic that isn't used too often. Apparently the Prewett and Weasley magix used to have something similar before things changed so much."

Ron paused and frowned at her, Harry seemed to do the same, "How do you know that?"

Ron didn't even know that.

The girl blinked before just shaking her head, "It's something I read about when I was looking up references once... for History of Magic. There was this book on historical bloodlines."

"Oh." And she never mentioned it before? Maybe she did, Merlin knows how many times he's tuned her out whenever she went into one of her unending homework lectures. Ron shook his head.

"I don't think it really matters at this point. I probably won't get resorted anyway and even if I did..." He took a deep breath, Blaise's words from earlier almost echoing in his ears. He resisted the urge to touch the spot where the Slytherin kissed him on his temple, "It might not be so bad."

"It might not be so bad? To end up in Slytherin?!" Hermione asked and Ron looked up at the girl only for his eyes to automatically fall to the red and gold tie around her neck.

A Gryffindor tie.

Gryffindor, the home of the brave and the valiant.

Even before he started school, he knew that he wanted to be in Gryffindor because... well-

Everyone in his family was in Gryffindor, there was never really a reason for him to consider any of the other houses. But Ron looked at that tie and wondered why it was that he wanted to be in Gryffindor.

Because everyone in his family was. Gryffindor was the home of the brave and the valiant. Some of the greatest wizards came from the lions den including Albus Dumbledore himself. And-

And what else?

Well... there weren't really any other reasons but those reasons were good enough, weren't they?

But right at that moment Ron paused and actually thought about it.

Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

He couldn't really see himself in Ravenclaw. He doesn't see himself as being stupid but he certainly didn't think himself smart or studious enough to end up there. If anyone in his family would have fit it Ravenclaw it might have been Bill or... Percy. Yes, Percy would've been a brilliant Ravenclaw. He's so smart and studious and responsible. It's actually stranger that he ended up in Gryffindor now that Ron actually thinks about it.

Well, what about Hufflepuff?

Merlin, no - or maybe... Hufflepuffs were nice, some of them seemed a bit more vulnerable than Ron was strictly comfortable with but, they were nice. Almost softer in a way, but, not all of them were like that. Cedric Diggory certainly wasn't, but he was nice... kind. Ron's temper would have made him an awful fit for Hufflepuff but, Charlie. Yes, Ron could definitely see Charlie in Hufflepuff.

What about Slytherin?

The thought made something odd and - unfortunately - very familiar recoil inside of him. It was the only house that anyone in his family spoke of as much as they spoke of Gryffindor.

The home of the cunning and ambitious. More like the home of the slimy and demented. That's what the twins used to say. But, that's mostly because of all the stories. Because of all the Death Eaters that used to be in Slytherin and the children of known Death Eaters that were there now.

Salazar Slytherin who'd been so evil and underhanded and of course, he-who-must-not-be-named. Evil twisted individuals who cared for no one other than themselves and their own ambitions and of course Malfoy and Snape and Blaise...

Ron almost frowned.

Malfoy can bugger off a cliff and rot. Snape was... he wasn't really what...

These past few days have had the redhead thinking about the potions master differently, to the point where he wasn't so sure about how evil Professor Snape really was.

Professor Snape is smart, well, brilliant really. Anyone with a working brain could see that, of course Ron hasn't suddenly forgotten what an absolute cunt the man could be when he really wanted to. He hasn't forgotten how Snape forced Remus to resign and did all those other twat worthy things, all those insults and punishments but...

But he wasn't half as much of a twat as Ron expected him to be about the whole pregnancy thing. He meant what he said to Harry earlier. It really did feel good talking to the professor about the situation. Snape didn't judge him over what happened. He didn't call Ron stupid or pathetic for getting himself pregnant before he'd even finished school, of course he wasn't exactly nice about it. But it still felt good talking to the potions master, better than he could have ever imagined. It had Ron thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he was in Slytherin house.

Ron shook his head only to suddenly think of Blaise and he felt his cheeks flush.

Blaise was smart. Blaise was handsome and unfairly charming and he was in Slytherin and Ron is pregnant with his baby and Blaise said how he'd prefer it if Ron and the baby were nearby-

That's not exactly what he'd expect from someone in Slytherin. But really what had he been expecting?

He'd expected a sudden and very untimely death, or maybe less dramatically, for Blaise to deny everything and Snape to label him a liar on top of being an absolute idiot. He'd expected his family, his mum in particular to be upset but ultimately accepting and eventually supportive but that's not what happened.

And wasn't that just the strangest thing?

Merlin, things would've been so much easier if everyone behaved the way he'd expected them to behave. Then he wouldn't even have to think about whether or not he wanted to be in Slytherin because the answer would be an immediate and very obvious no but now-

The thought's been creeping into his head ever since he found out that he might have to resort. The thought that it might not be so bad to be in Snape's house, under his care. Lady Zabini certainly thought it to be the best option and she didn't seem like someone who would make a decision like that on a whim. And Blaise said he wanted him close.

And Slytherin wasn't that bad was it? Luna said once how Salazar and Godric had actually been good friends. Charlie once talked about how those rumours about the basilisk were blown out of proportion.

The redhead shook his head, "I'm just saying, being in Slytherin might... it might make things simpler. Snape's making my potions for me and he seems to know a lot about carriers so there's that and I'll be living with the Zabini's when I'm not at school anyway, so I don't think it makes much of a difference, really."

"I-I guess you're right. Of course you're right, that's actually quite sensible." Hermione took a deep breath, "But, what about your family?"

Ron resisted the urge to tense and just shrugged, "Dad said, he'll support me no matter what."

"And Molly?"

"He... He said he'd deal with Mum as well." Ron sighed again as he dragged a hand through his hair, "I don't want to talk about mum anymore, alright. Blaise already has me stressed out with this whole, courtship thing."

"Well, why does he have to do that?!" Harry asked as he sat up and Ron shook his head.

"Because of the baby."

"Yeah but, it's not like you want him to do it. Isn't there another way around it?"

"Not unless I want the ministry to declare me his mistress." Ron said, "It's fine... eventually I'm going to start showing and-" The redhead swallowed hard, "The less nonsense I have to deal with the better, right?"

"But you'll be... courting, or whatever and-"

"Harry please." Ron suddenly snapped before taking in a deep breath. Deep breaths, like Snape said... Merlin, he's taking advice from Snape and actually taking it seriously. "Things are really confusing right now, but I'm trying to make the right decisions for... for the baby and me. Besides, it's not like I'm marrying him, it's just so things don't get difficult down the line. I don't really have any other options. Blaise's mum wants me to resort. She wants me to start living at their place when I'm not in school and after what happened with Mum this morning I... I'm grateful, that I'll have somewhere to go. That we'll both have somewhere to go."

He said that last bit quietly, putting a hand over his stomach. Harry's eyes seemed to soften and he took a deep breath of his own to force his hands to unclench.

Ron closed his eyes for a brief moment when he felt them start to sting, those emotions that he had locked away almost slipped loose for a brief moment, he needed a second to force them away again. Merlin, Molly had been so... angry. Arthur promised to take care of it and Ron hoped that his father would be able to smooth things over and things could go back to normal or, as normal as they could be under the circumstances. But he's never seen her like that before. What if his Dad can't fix things? What if he can't go home again? Ron took in another shuddering breath only to almost jump when he felt an arm slip around his shoulders and pull him closer.

He blinked, "Harry?"

Harry's lips pursed for a brief second and then he sighed, "For the record, if we do end up getting resorted; I refuse to room with Malfoy."

"We?"

"You didn't think we'd let you do this alone, did you?" And then he gave a slight shrug, "Who knows, maybe the hat was onto something when it almost put me in Slytherin."

Ron remembered when Harry told him that one summer evening when they were at the Burrow. He remembers how shocked he'd been at the information, damn near flabbergasted and honestly a little disgusted. But now... well-

"If I even get resorted." Ron started he felt something warm bloom in his chest at Harry's words and then he frowned, "You know, when I went to Dumbledore's office this morning the sorting hat said something odd."

"What?"

"It said the Prewetts and Weasleys used to be Slytherin families."

"Really?"

"Yeah." And almost like he remembered that she was still there Ron pulled away from Harry towards his other best friend, "Hey, did you read anything about that 'Mione? Hermione?"

Hermione blinked, "What?"

"Something wrong?" Ron asked.

"No well, you mean besides the obvious?" She asked with a sigh of frustration, "You know if you gave it away for adoption, even if you gave it to the Zabinis you probably wouldn't need to resort."

"But it wouldn't be mine anymore. It's bloody annoying but if this is what I need to do to keep my baby then... I'm willing to do it. I've always wanted children, you know that."

"You could have other children in the future."

"Yeah and they'll have a big sister or-or brother... or whatever."

"Ron I'm just... I'm just trying to make sure that you make the sensible decision. You already went and... got into it with Zabini and the other night you said it was a mistake."

"It was... maybe." Ron paused when he remembered, "Snape said, he said that..." The redhead let out a sigh of frustration, "I'm keeping it, alright and I'll figure everything else out later." He said as he pulled out of Harry's grasp completely.

"But, Ron, this thing is going to ruin everything!" She hissed, "It's bad enough that you're being forced to resort but now because of your stupid mistake this-"

"It is not a thing." Ron cut in feeling something cold heavy settle into his chest even as he spoke, "It's not ruining anything."

The girl just kept going, "I can't even begin to understand how you ended up... jumping into bed with a Slytherin to begin with! What on earth were you thinking?! Or were you just not thinking as usual?"

Harry blinked, "Hermione-"

"It's bad enough that you're being forced to resort but now because of your stupid mistake-"

"My stupid mistake's given me something that I've always wanted!" Ron almost cried out even as a lump started to grow in his throat, those feelings that he kept trying to force away suddenly bubbling to the surface as his eyes started to sting. It wasn't even just the feelings from that morning, it felt like there was a hole somewhere in his chest and it was trying to split itself open. Every shred of doubt he felt, every suppressed fear, every time he just forced himself not to think because of the expectations around him that were never explicitly said but were always implied. That hard stonewall of pride that he tried with very fibre of his being to maintain because... because he was a Weasley and a Gryffindor and he should've been satisfied with that. It should've been enough, he shouldn't want more, he shouldn't be curious about all those deep dark forbidden things because they were deep and dark and forbidden and only the evil and corrupt think that way. Always brave and stubborn, never fearful. There should never be even a shred of doubt because everything was exactly as it should be. Because... because it's what was expected-

"Maybe I didn't want this to come so soon, but it's here and what happened between me and Blaise happened and I don't regret a single thing about it! For once, for just one night I could feel whatever I want and say how I felt without worrying about someone telling me I was wrong or stupid. Blaise might be a Slytherin but at least he actually cares about what I'm thinking. He doesn't just try to talk over me and nag until I do whatever it is he wants me to do."

Hermione pulled back, "Ron... I-"

Ron got up from his seat, hands clenched at his sides, "She's not a mistake. I'm keeping her. If I have to get sorted into bloody Slytherin then fine! If I have to do it alone, then I'll do that too."

"Ron!"

With that he turned around and immediately made a beeline out of the library.

His face felt flushed, his eyes stung worse than before and it almost felt like his heart was in his throat but Ron didn't stop as he rushed out of the library. So much so that he didn't notice that someone was heading right for him until.

"Oof! Oh, Ron I didn't-"

The girl he collided with gave him a bright smile only to falter at the look on his face, she started to frown and Ron quickly looked away.

Luna.

Bright eyes filled with concern and Ron tried to clear his throat.

"Sorry-"

"Ron what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"I'm fine." He said trying to push passed her again only to stop when she grabbed his arm.

"But Ron you-" Luna suddenly cut herself off, her frown growing and Ron frowned in return. And then the grip on his arm tightened as she dropped the book in her hands and started pulling him right out the library and down the hall.

The redhead blinked, "Luna?" She didn't say a word.

They made it all the way to the dungeons and then deeper, deep enough for Ron to realise that they were heading for the only place that could be that far down in the dungeons.

Snape's private quarters.

"Luna, what're you-"

"We're almost there."

Ron swallowed hard when he saw the lone door lit up by the torches around the hallway, just before they stopped at it. She wasted no time as she reached out and knocked three times.

"Luna! Are you insane?!"

There was a moment, just before the door opened, that Ron felt a bout of panic wash over him as he wondered why on earth the Ravenclaw dragged him all the way there. A shiver of fear at exactly how Snape would react to them suddenly showing up at his door at that time.

When the door opened, Ron swallowed all over again and watched as the imposing figure of professor Snape appeared on the other side of the door. Still in his black robes even at that time of night. Seriously, does he sleep like that too?

The professor's eyes narrowed down at them.

"Mr Weasley and Miss Lovegood, I assume you have a good reason for disturbing me in my private quarters, after school hours."

"No, sorry sir we-"

"Ron needs to talk to you professor." Luna suddenly cut in and Ron looked over to the girl with wide eyes before he hissed.

"No, I bloody well don't! Luna why would you-"

"He really needs someone to talk to sir." She said ignoring him and keeping her gaze on the older man who matched it for a moment, before those dark eyes slid over to the redhead and his lips almost twitched down in a slight frown.

It was unbelievably tense for what was only about five seconds but somehow felt like forever before the older man seemed to straighten his posture even more before he spoke.

"Very well." He stepped aside. Ron's eyes widened to comical proportions and looked over to the girl beside him who gave him a reassuring smile and a nudge.

"Go on."

Ron can't even begin to explain his next actions, but he did in fact walk into Snape's quarters.

Inside it looked different than what he thought it would. Over the years most of the students in Hogwarts, Ron included, imagined that Snape's private quarters to look like something out of a medieval torture dungeon. So when he stepped inside he wasn't quite sure what to think when he realised that it all looked so... normal.

The door immediately opened up to a living room area with a couch and coffee table by the fire on the other side of the room and a single seat right in front of it. Of course, one thing Ron expected were the rows and rows of books all lined up against the walls and on a few side tables here and there. There seemed to be a tea and coffee station over to the left and to the right a hallway that he figured probably led to the bedroom and bathroom. It was warm and there wasn't nearly as much green and black as he expected there to be.

Ron jumped when he heard the door shut.

"I hope you understand how, irregular this is Mr Weasley, however under the circumstances, I'm hoping that you're not about to waste my time with anything too trivial." Snape said as he walked around the teen. Ron watched him go over towards the seats in front of the fire place before he gestured towards the couch.

"Have a seat."

"Professor, no - I..." Ron took a deep breath, "I'm sorry. Everything's fine really. I think Luna just-"

Honestly, he isn't sure why Luna just did what she did. Or why he even let her.

Snape seemed to ignore him as he sat down in the armchair, "You seem upset-"

"Sir-"

"Might I remind you Mr Weasley, that any strain and stress on you is strain and stress on your baby as well. Have you taken your potions for the night?"

He blinked, "No, not yet sir."

Snape got up again, "Sit down."

This time his tone clearly left no room for argument. Ron resisted the urge to sigh as he walked over and sat on the couch as Snape walked over to a door on the right, he heard the brief clinking of glass and leaned forward a bit but he couldn't see much from where he was sitting. The potions master emerged a few seconds later carrying three vials that he immediately recognised as the same potions that he's been taking the last few days.

Snape shut the door behind him and then looked up to see the redhead staring at him.

"Your next batch is already complete, however I assumed that you and Mr Zabini would be paying me a visit soon so I could start on your specialised potions."

"I..." Ron swallowed, "We're going to. Blaise said – we decided that we'd come once my potions were finished or... after-after-"

"After you're resorted?" Snape said and Ron blinked when he found the professor standing in front of him with his hand outstretched. His eyes went wide.

"How do you-"

"The headmaster's already informed me of Lady Zabini's request. Apparently, she's hoping that you'll be placed in Slytherin." Snape said as Ron took the potions with a muttered thanks before the man went back to his previous seat. "If you do end up in Slytherin it would make things simpler. However, we will have to wait and see exactly what the hat says tomorrow."

"Right." Ron said, looking away from the man to stare at the potions in his hands.

"I assume you're not particularly enthused about ending up in Slytherin."

"Not, exactly." Then Ron's hands closed around the vials and clenched, "I..." Another deep breath, "I don't know... I was thinking that, it might not be so bad."

"Oh?"

"Like, you said it would make things easier and... Blaise said that he'd like to have me there." He said that last bit quietly almost smiling a bit before he shook his head, "Besides it's not like I really have a choice though, right? So, it doesn't even really matter. It's... It's fine. I think, I'll be-we'll be fine-"

"Mr Weasley." Snape suddenly interrupted and Ron looked up to find the man watching him with that indefinable look on his face, "Take the potions."

"Oh right." Ron did as he was told, for once not too bothered about taking Snape's orders as he downed one after the other. Somehow, he started to feel a little better as the barest wave of calm washed over him.

"If I may ask, exactly how have your parent's taken the news about your pregnancy?"

Ron tensed looking up at the man. Snape seemed to almost frown.

"I see."

"What? No!" Ron started when he saw the look on the man's face and quickly spoke, "They-They were just shocked but everything's fine. Dad said that he'd help me in whichever way he can and, he didn't seem all that bothered about becoming a grandfather-"

"And your mother?"

Ron's mouth snapped shut he felt his eyes start to sting again as he looked away. Those dark eyes stayed on him for another moment before the potions master suddenly got up and walked across the room.

"Tea, Mr Weasley?"

"What?"

"I'd offer you coffee but, caffeine isn't good for expecting parents." The man said as he stood beside the tea station and Ron heard the clinking of cups and spoons, "Neither is alcohol, shellfish and certain potions. I hope Madame Pomfrey has made you aware of this."

"She uhm she gave me a book about pregnancies."

"Have you started reading it?" Snape said as he turned back with two cups of tea, he handed one to the redhead who honestly had no idea how to react as he just took it.

"I try to read a little every night."

Try being the operative word here. Usually he'd get about a page or two done before fear and anxiety had him shutting the book in a panic.

"That's good. From what I understand, it's nearly impossible to know how any particular pregnancy will go, but it's good to at least have a general idea of how to proceed." As he said this he sat down and stirred his tea. Ron just stared down at the cup in his hands.

"Chamomile."

"What?"

"It's good for steadying one's nerves ." Snape said simply before sipping from his own cup and Ron hesitated before doing the same.

Ew

It tastes like flowers and dirt. How is this supposed to be relaxing?

"How have your friends taken the news about all of this?" Snape asked and Ron almost chocked on his tea at the sudden question.

"Fine."

"Really? I was expecting some sort of dramatic outburst from Mr Potter in light of his best friend getting pregnant with the child of a Slytherin. Or is he still unaware of that particular detail?"

Ron looked up and glared, "Harry knows. He's been very supportive."

"Really?"

"Yes, he even plans on resorting with me tomorrow." Ron said and the potions master almost choked on his own tea, eyes widening for a brief moment. Ron couldn't stifle the snort.

"He's..." Snape seemed to take a deep breath to try and compose himself and Ron couldn't help but feel a little smug at the fact that he managed to get the man a little rattled, despite the circumstances. Smug enough to take another sip of tea-

Ew seriously, it tastes like potpourri-

"All the same." Snape said after clearing his throat, " As long as you have some support, you should be fine. I'm sure Miss Granger must be just as supportive."

At that Ron set his tea down in his lap and just stared at it. He paused, bit his lip for a brief moment and then-

"I don't get why she's acting like this."

"Acting like what?"

"I've-I've always wanted kids. Maybe not like this, but Hermione knows that I've always wanted a family of my own someday. I never made it a secret but now..." His hand clenched around the cup, "She kept bringing up the adoption thing and telling me what a bad idea it would be to keep and then she called it a thing! Why?! I don't understand what..." Ron let out a sigh, "Maybe... maybe it's just shock, lots of people have been shocked around me lately, but I thought that she of all people would at least be happy for me. I've been feeling... I've been a bit excited when I thought about actually having the baby and I thought- I don't understand why she would say those things."

Snape said nothing as he watched the redhead, Ron didn't really expect him to so he just kept going.

"After Mum blew up this morning I was hoping that at least, at least my friends would stick with me if no one else. Blaise, he's been taking it well you know and his mum doesn't seem too bad and you've been alright too. Neville's been great and Harry's just been brilliant, even Percy showed up and tried, I could tell that he was trying so hard but then Hermione just..."

"Why does it matter what Miss Granger thinks?"

"She's my best friend, of course it matter-"

"Why? Do you plan on raising this child with her?" Snape asked and Ron blinked before he looked up at the man.

"What... no, of course not but-"

"Then I fail to see why her opinion would matter." Snape said calmly and Ron just stared back at the potions master. "You have the support of your father and your friends. Along with that of the father of your child and Lady Zabini as well, you don't need anyone else."

"But-"

"If Miss Granger has decided to become difficult then that is entirely her business. You have a child to focus on, don't waste your time worrying about someone that doesn't seem to care about what you want." Snape said clearly, "If Miss Granger comes around then she comes around. In the meantime focus on your child and the support you already have. Like I said before, this child is a very special gift; don't ever let anyone tell you different."

Ron was shocked into silence, he just stared back at the man who smoothly lifted up his cup of tea to take a sip.

"In any event, I think the truly shocking thing is Potter's apparent acceptance of this situation. Along with his baffling desire to resort as well."

And then Ron rolled his eyes hard as he took another sip of his own tea. Somehow it wasn't so bad the third time around. Hopefully he isn't getting used to the taste.

"For your information, Professor; Harry's been really brilliant. He's not even worried about the resort, the hat almost put Harry in Slytherin the first time anyway so-"

"What..." Wide eyes, Ron cringed when he realised what he told to this particular man. Too late now, besides, the look on Snape's face is sort of funny.

"In first year, Harry said the hat almost put him in Slytherin. Actually seemed pretty adamant about it. Something about Slytherin being the right house for him."

Snape looked close to gaping, "Why didn't it?"

Ron gave an awkward shrug, "He asked it not to, so it put him in Gryffindor."

"Really?"

"You didn't know?" The redhead frowned a bit, "You can negotiate with the hat sometimes, long as you're stubborn about it, it can put you in the house you want. I thought the professors knew."

Snape didn't say anything, he actually looked a lot like he did that day when Ron told him who the sire of his child is as he started rubbing his temples.

"Evidently not." He let out an audible sigh through his nose, "You're absolutely sure, the hat tried to put him in Slytherin?"

"Yeah... why?"

Another sigh and a muttered... something. Ron couldn't quite catch it as Snape suddenly set his tea aside and got up from his seat. "Wait here."

"What?"

"Wait. Here." The potions master said as he gave the red head a stern yet somehow exhausted look as he headed down the short hallway towards one of the rooms and disappeared inside. Ron huffed and mindlessly took another sip of tea-

Oh bloody hell, how did it suddenly get worse all over again?!

He quickly leaned forward to set the cup down on the coffee table and took a brief moment to look around himself. He can't imagine what Snape suddenly decided to do right then. He kept looking around.

Snape's quarters really did look different from what he thought. It all felt so... warm. It was sort of nice. He got up and walked over towards one of the shelves, there were all sorts of books there. Not half as many potions books as he would have thought but lots that seemed to be written in Latin and a few in runes. Most surprising of all though had to be the novels. The only author's name he even vaguely recognised was William Shakespeare. So... muggle books. That seemed odd. Though Ron knew that the man was a half-blood, he seemed a bit too pureblood to read muggle books of any sort.

He moved away from the shelf and wandered back over towards the large clock hanging over the fireplace when he suddenly noticed a wooden box on a side table beside the arm chair where Snape was sitting before, his cup of potpourri tea still steaming beside it. Ron glanced back to where the potions master disappeared to and reached over to lift the lid of the oak box only to blink at what he found inside.

Chocolates?

Snape has a sweet tooth? Enough for him to at least keep his own private stash. Ron gave a snort and had to fight off the urge to pinch one of the gold wrapped treats. Even if it is just a sweet, Snape would probably kill him if the redhead had the nerve to steal anything from him. Baby or no baby. He'd really love some chocolate though, Hogsmeade weekend can't come fast enough.

He shut the box and there was something written along the side, carved into the edge of the oak lid. Actually, looking at it the box looked quite nice. The inscription read...

Myn Frog's Hopp Stern?

Some sort of company maybe.

Ron frowned even as he went back to his seat, wary of Snape catching him snooping around but didn't sit down.

What's taking him so long?

He went over to the short hallway and noticed one of the doors was slightly ajar, the room looked dark. With a frown, Ron edged a bit closer, being careful not to make any noise until he was standing peaking in through the slight opening to see Snape at the floo. The room was dimly lit by the fire in the floo and a lamp on a desk on the other side of the room. He'd just pulled his head from the fireplace with a heavy sigh before slipping his wand from his pocket.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Ron's eyes went wide and he had to consciously stop himself from gasping when a shimmering white doe erupted from the potions master's wand.

A doe?

The creature edged closer to the professor and he reached out towards it where it nuzzled his hand. Ron pulled back and immediately stumbled away from the door before hurrying back over to his seat.

Snape has a Patronus... and it's a doe?

Patroni are dependent on happy memories, its light magic in its purest form so on some level, and Ron thought somewhat understandably, he never imagined the Slytherin head of house would have a Patronus, much less one so-

If he had to guess what Snape's Patronus was, he would've guessed something like a snake or a bat to be honest... Then again, he's been wrong about a lot of things lately, hasn't he?

Ron sighed heavily at that.

Just then he heard a door close. His eyes snapped down to his teacup and he quickly snatched it up, to down at least half of it. Thankfully it had cooled down somewhat so all he had to deal with was the taste. He cringed hard, glaring at the cup just as Snape walked into the room.

"Mr Weasley."

"Yes-uhm yes professor?"

"Whether or not you are in fact resorted tomorrow morning, I expect you and Zabini to come and see me in the potions classroom after dinner." Snape said standing beside the couch where Ron sat, features perfectly composed. Ron was dissappointed. It was funny seeing Snape so unsettled. He almost brought up the man's Patronus as a way to rattle him again, but no. Snape would definitely kill him.

"The sooner I can get started on your potions the better, maybe add something to help with the stress." He said that last bit quietly but Ron still caught it. The redhead frowned.

"Sir I... why have you been helping me?" He let out a heavy sigh as he set the tea cup back on the table, "We've never gotten along before and I never-"

"I'm not sure if your limited span of perception has allowed you to notice it Mr Weasley but I am the Slytherin Head of house." Snape started smoothly and Ron almost felt angry until the man finished, "The wellbeing of the students under my care is just one of my responsibilities. Regardless of house affiliations, if I notice a student in need it is my duty as a head of house to assist them in any way necessary. Should you be sorted into Slytherin tomorrow, this will become even more true."

Ron just stared back at the man when there was suddenly a knock at the door. Snape turned and walked over to answer it as he spoke. "It's late Mr Weasley. You need as much rest as possible for the baby."

"Oh, right. Yeah, I-" Ron said just as he got up only to blinked at who he saw standing on the other side of the threshold.

"Blaise?"

The Slytherin smirked while the potions master somehow seemed very close to rolling his eyes. "Mr Zabini, I trust that you'll make sure Mr Weasley safely reaches his dormitory."

"Yes professor."

Ron just stared back at the other until Snape let out an audible breath, "That was your cue to stop wasting my time and leave Mr Weasley."

Ron rolled his eyes even as he felt his cheeks flush a bit, "Yes, professor." He bit out as he left the quarters.

"And though, I'm not sure how you could possibly become more pregnant than you already are. I suggest going straight to your dormitory and not making any detours along the way."

Ron's face went beet red as his head snapped back to look at the professor who gave him that same smirk that he usually despised seeing on the older man's face. Instead, this time, it made him pause since that insufferable drawl sounded more teasing that mocking.

The redhead gaped. Snape didn't even bother waiting for an attempt at a response as he immediately shut the door behind leaving the two teens outside. Ron looked up at Blaise when he heard a chuckle and the Slytherin gave him a warm smile.

"I think you might be growing on him."

The redhead sighed, "Really? Because it seems like he's trying to torture me."

"That's how you know you're growing on him." Blaise said as he gestured down the hall, "Ready to go?"

"How did you-"

"Professor Snape sent me a message, said to come collect my fiancé before he throws you out."

"I... fiancé?"

Blaise shrugged, "I already talked to him. About the courtship announcement. He said it'll be done tomorrow."

"Right."

"Ron... If you don't want to-"

"No, it's... it's fine." The redhead said as he started walking and Blaise walked beside him, "Besides, we said we'd be giving whatever this is a try right?"

The Italian went quiet, for a moment it was just their footsteps echoing doing the hall. Ron nearly jumped out of his skin when Blaise reached out to take his hand.

"Right."

Ron felt his face flush anew when he looked down at their joined hands. The warm steady grip around his own and he glanced up to find Blaise just staring up ahead, seemingly without a care in the world the stupid git.

Ron looked up ahead as well but didn't try to pull his hand free. Tomorrow... everyone will know anyway, or at least... they'll have an idea.

The redhead took in a deep breath.

"How did Snape contact you?" It was mostly asked as a way to try and distract himself.

Blaise shrugged, "I was in the common room."

"So, fire call?"

"No, Patronus."

"Oh." Right, Snape's doe. Ron's lips pursed. "A bit surprised Snape has a Patronus."

Blaise looked at him and arched a brow, "Seriously?"

"Well, they're dependent on light happy memories right and..." Ron trailed off, immediately feeling a bit guilty. Just because Snape was Snape, didn't mean he was incapable of having any good memories. But he was still trying to wrap his mind around Snape's Patronus being something so-

Blaise rolled his eyes, "They're dependent on pure memories. Happiness... purity looks different for everyone. Besides, you've heard the rumours haven't you? About how long Professor Snape's been after the DADA position. If he didn't know how to cast a Patronus, it'd make him pretty incompetent wouldn't it?"

That... makes a lot of sense. Still-

"I guess, I'm just more surprised that he'd have a doe of all things."

"You saw it?"

Ron blinked, "I saw him send it but I wasn't sure what it was for... and then you showed up." The redhead paused in thought. He thought about the passed few days. About what Snape said just before he left. "Although it weirdly fits him, doesn't it? Protective, wise, stubborn-" Then Ron remembered that day in the potions lab, when Snape had reached out to wipe away the tear rolling down his cheek, "Surprisingly gentle…"

Blaise looked at him, "Well, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"What's yours? Do you have one?"

Ron shrugged, "Yeah." Harry taught both him and Hermione just after he'd learned to cast the spell. Ron felt himself flush a bit, "Jack Russell terrier."

The Slytherin grinned, "Oh that's just absolutely perfect."

"Shut up." Ron huffed as he nudged the Slytherin with his elbow, "What about you? Do you have one?"

Blaise seemed to sober up for a moment, Ron frowned. "It's alright if you-"

"No, I have one."

"Oh, what is it?"

Suddenly Blaise stopped and Ron looked up at him in confusion only to blink when the Slytherin took out his wand. He seemed to take in a deep breath and shut his eyes before-

"Expecto Patronum!"

A burst of light erupted from the Slytherin's wand and Ron's eyes went wide when it took the shape of a horse, a bit slender in build with large flapping bat like wings. Ron remembered that night in the forest with Blaise. He remembered a picture he saw in a book-

"Bloody hell."

The threstrall ran around in a circle in the dark hall of the dungeon, before it turned back towards them and walked over to Blaise; edging closer to sniff his arm and he turned the hand that still held his wand so the horse could nuzzle it.

"You-"

"Like I said before, happiness looks different to everyone." Blaise said quietly and Ron remembered something else about that night in the forest, the reason why Blaise could see threstralls to begin with. His hand clenched around Blaise's and the Slytherin looked up at him with a weak smile, it felt oddly vulnerable. Without even fully thinking about it, Ron reached into his own robes to pull out his own wand.

Happy memories... He hasn't had a lot of those lately. He tried to think of his days growing up in the Burrow. Christmas mornings with his family. He thought about spending time with Harry during the summer. He thought about that moment, in the forest. Just after they both came Blaise had pulled him in to kiss him, the moonlight reflecting off of his skin in just the most ridiculous way-

"Expecto Patronum!"

A Jack Russell immediately burst out of his wand and started excitedly running around. Seeming to lose its mind before it headed over to Ron to jump up against his leg as it yelped. He heard Blaise scoff and the dog turned it's attention away from its caster onto the other Patronus and started barking again. The threstrall stepped back, wings extending out and flapping as the dog started to run around it excitedly and it stomped its hooves and stared at the other with a neigh, like it wasn't exactly sure what to do.

Blaise outright laughed, "A little terror, isn't he?"

"I take offense to that. If anything, he's a big terror." Ron said and Blaise laughed again. They watched as the dog stopped running and barked at the horse while hopping in place. The threstrall lowered its wings and leaned down, bumping its nose against the terrier's and somehow causing it to immediately still. The threstrall then went down to lie on the floor and the dog moved closer, going round in a circle for a brief moment before it slumped into the horse's side, just as one of the large wings went to cover it. It leaned in to nuzzle the side of the dog's head only for the terrier to move first and lick it before snuggling in deeper under the wing.

They both just watched the patroni for a moment. Ron looked up at Blaise and in seeing that soft smile on the Slytherin's face couldn't stop himself from quickly leaning up and pressing a kiss on the other's lips. Blaise blinked in surprise and Ron smirked even as he felt his blush burn all the way to his ears and he looked away. That smirk turned into just the dumbest grin when he felt Blaise's hand tighten around his own.

"Does Malfoy have a Patronus?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

Blaise smirked, "Ferret."

Ron laughed, "That's bloody brilliant!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Arthur and Molly didn't show for the Order meeting. Which was strange since Bill doesn't think his parents have ever missed an Order meeting. Not when Molly had been pregnant with him or any of his siblings for that matter. His mother insisted that they were important, that in a time of such great strife, it wouldn't do to be caught off guard or miss any important information that might be shared during these meetings.

Arthur was a bit more practical about it, though he never missed a meeting himself, he encouraged the boys themselves not to worry too much. Saying that in a time of such great strife, spending as much time as you can with those you loved and doing what you loved was important. So when Bill, Charlie and the twins joined, he'd usually just fill them in on what happened in the last meeting the next time he saw them; maybe fire call if something particularly important was shared. But it was strange for his parents not to show.

They spoke to the headmaster before they left. Usually Bill liked to get back to Fleur once meetings ended and he knew the twins would waste some time going back to their new shop before heading home. But something felt off and when he asked Dumbledore the man had just given them that usual smile.

"Oh, I'm sure everything is fine. Arthur and Molly are always attending meetings, I don't see the harm in them skipping one or two every now and then. Especially when there wasn't anything of great significance to discuss."

Something about that didn't sound right.

Remus getting his job back at Hogwarts seemed quite significant to him, especially considering the circumstances around his resignation the first time. They all knew about what Snape did. Harry and Ron had been so upset about it after all, how could they not?

When the announcement was made, Bill had looked over to the potions master to see just the slightest sliver of shock pass over his features before they simply slipped back into cold neutrality. It seemed like an oddly restrained reaction, even for Snape especially when he'd gone to so much trouble to try and force the werewolf to resign in the first place. As far as Bill was concerned well...

It's not like he wouldn't be able to place such a terrible act as threatening to out a fellow colleague as a means to force them to resign on Snape... it's just that, he couldn't really imagine a reason for why Snape would want to. Sure they were aware of the tension surrounding Sirius and Remus and Snape, though the details as to exactly what went on between them in their younger days in school were never discussed at any great length. Most members of the Order knew that Snape didn't like Remus and that he very clearly despised Sirius. Most members of the Order knew about the DADA position and how Snape had been chasing after that post since he started teaching at Hogwarts. It makes sense for him to take immediate offence to Remus getting the job instead of him but-

When Bill started at school, it was the year of the tragedy that claimed the Potter's lives. The end of the war, the supposed defeat of Voldemort and the very first year that Professor Snape started teaching at Hogwarts. He remembers that Molly hadn't been particularly thrilled at the prospect of her oldest child being taught by the man asking if it was absolutely necessary for Bill to take potions. Arthur calmly told her that basic potions was compulsory for all Hogwarts students.

"Once he gets to sixth year, he won't be obligated to take the advanced potions class you know that." Arthur sighed, "In any event, I think we could trust Severus... at this point, at least for now-"

"After his role in-"

"Harry pulled through, we should be grateful for that much. Albus trusts him enough to keep him as a teacher at Hogwarts. For now, I think that's enough."

That was just one of the whispered conversations he'd overheard. In the years growing up he'd heard other whispers about Severus Snape, death eater and spy. Whispers that had him a bit nervous once he started at Hogwarts and entered the man's classroom for the first time only...

It wasn't all that he'd been expecting. Really, he seemed quite normal. The man was very clearly intelligent, absurdly intimidating yes, obviously powerful but mostly, not all that different from any of the other professors that taught at the school. That vicious terrifying monster he'd been expecting turned out to be not so terrifying. Professor Snape was strict of course, he had no patience for pointless shenanigans and could strike fear into anyone with those cold eyes of death. He had a sharp cutting sense of humour you could only truly appreciate as long as whatever comment he made wasn't directed at you.

But Bill learned that as long as you do as you're supposed to, follow school rules and don't try his patience Professor Snape was actually quite easy to deal with. Which is one of the reasons why he did in fact continue with potions well passed fifth year and actually managed to get one of the highest potions marks in his OWLs and NEWTs. When Charlie started at school, he'd said more or less the same thing.

"Don't get me wrong, the git is terrifying but..." His brother shrugged throwing a quaffle into the air before catching it as they sat in front of the fire in the common room, "But I think he's alright."

And then there was Percy who strangely, and much to the horror of the twins, proclaimed that potions had been his favourite class.

All in all, Bill didn't really have much of a problem with Professor Snape, until he joined the Order of course and became privy to some of the man's exploits as a Death Eater. The very brief explanations of what happened with the Potters. That's when he became somewhat wary but at the same time those whispers, he heard from his childhood still didn't seem quite so accurate.

Could Snape force Remus to resign by threatening to out him as a werewolf? Yes, but considering his position in the Order Bill didn't really see a reasonable excuse for why Snape would want to. Why not scare him away from the position before he could even start teaching at Hogwarts? Why wait until then to try and out the werewolf? Why not just immediately reveal his secret? And more importantly, if Snape threatening Remus was the reason he resigned in the first place; what was stopping Snape from outing him now that he's about to return? Maybe Albus is the one that stepped in to make sure that the potions master wouldn't try it... but if that's true, then why hadn't Albus stepped in the first time?

All the same, Remus teaching at Hogwarts seemed like a very big deal. It didn't make sense for his parents to not be there.

But Bill didn't bother asking. He asked the twins if they knew why their parents weren't in attendance. They had no idea. So they decided to go home and check in for a bit. See exactly what Arthur and Molly had deemed more important than an Order meeting.

When they arrived at the Burrow, with Bill apparating in first and the twins shortly after, they'd all paused to blink and just stare at the barn house since they could hear Arthur and Molly from outside.

They were arguing.

Now arguing wasn't necessarily a foreign thing for their parents, but it never ever sounded so... intense either.

With Bill frowning and the twins looking on in concern Bill opened the door to enter the house while his brothers followed.

"I can't believe you're taking the side of that evil wretch!"

"This isn't even about Alexis Zabini! It's about the fact that you not only kept this a secret from your own family you've been lying to us for years Molly! Years?! And for what? What possible reason could Albus have given you to make you think that this was the right thing to do?!"

"There was no need for any of you to know."

"No need-"

"If Ron hadn't been opening his legs some cheap tart-"

"You are not using that language to with any one of my children and I refuse to allow you to shift the blame onto him! If he had known that getting pregnant was a possibility then at least that would be one thing, but you didn't tell him; you didn't tell any of us! You didn't tell me! I am his father Molly, you had no right to try and keep this from me." they heard something hit the table in the dining room just as they walked down the hall, "Albus had no right to sign these documents-"

"How did you-... Percy, of course." A pause, "That was-"

"It was what?! I went with you to get Ron tested and I never saw these results, where did they come from and why is Albus signature on them instead of mine? Where are the documents that I signed?!" Arthur said his voice barely above a whisper and Bill stopped just before the turn into the dining room to see his father glaring darkly at his mother, while Molly swallowed hard as she stared at the brown folder on the table before looking up at her husband. The twins stopped behind him.

"A-Arthur-"

"These are my children aren't they Molly?"

Bill tensed tremendously. He heard George gasp quietly.

Molly's eyes went wide and she almost gaped, "Of course they are!"

"Then why is Albus' signature on Ron's test results? Why is it, that I'm only finding out that he's a carrier after he gets pregnant?"

"Ron's pregnant?!" The twins both said in shock and Bill almost hissed as he looked back at the two. It was silent in the dining room until-

"Boys?" Arthur called out and Bill took in a deep breath as he walked into the dining room with the twins following close behind. Molly seemed to tense and her eyes went even wider as she blanched.

Arthur took a deep breath as he looked away, "What are you doing here?"

Bill looked between his parents, "You weren't at the meeting. Just wanted to check and make sure everything's alright-"

"How is Ron pregnant?!" Fred suddenly asked and Bill wanted to sigh at his brother's lack of tact in a very clearly volatile situation just before George spoke as well.

"No, he can't be pregnant."

"That's not possible-"

"-Is it?"

"That's... this is none-"

"No, no more lies." Arthur said clearly cutting Molly off with a glare as he moved over to the head of the table. "Boys sit down, we need to talk."

A/N: Please review

Also, I started posting James POV of the stuff that went on in the Marauders era on my AO3 account. I plan on moving all my fics on there so, seriously check it out if you want. The person who's POV is vitally important to this fic is Lily, she's going to be witnessing a lot of what's going on, hence the diary entries. James POV is really just focused on his relationship with Severus, just two chapters because I felt like doing something fluffy and kinda sad