Hidden Folk

Sirius was a man who knew when he was stuck. But he also knew that he hated asking for help. He'd gone through book after book in Grimmauld's library and couldn't find the book that he was sure had been there before. And annoyingly, he knew who else would possibly have anything similar. But he hated asking from help - especially from him. The only thing forcing him to swallow his pride and head down to the Hogwarts dungeons, was Lenalee's tear stained face as she worried for her family and her blinding smile when he said he'd help. With that in mind, he knocked on Snape's office door.

"Oh, Black. Come in. Severus is in the lab making some last minute adjustments to Wolfsbane" Kanda ushered the man through the office and into a brown and grey sitting room. He sat down and watched the apprentice knock on what he presumed was the lab door. Snape appeared in the doorway and Sirius blinked in surprise when the older man kissed Kanda before giving a small smile and mumbling something into his ear. Huh, so they were dating. Kanda nodded and headed into the lab as Snape headed towards the living room, cleaning his hands on a towel.

"Black. To what do I owe the privilege?" Snape raised an eyebrow at his old enemy currently sitting awkwardly on his sofa.

"I was looking for something in the Grimmauld library but turned up empty. After thinking about it, I realised that you may have something on the same topic" Sirius grimaced at how awkwardly he worded his speech but Snape didn't mock him. Instead he shrugged and simply asked,

"If it's dark in nature, probably. What topic are you referring to?"

"Faeries. Lenalee mentioned green eyes and a twinkly gravel voice blocking her scrying. And it was talking about the Forest"

Snape cursed softly,

"I don't actually have any books on the matter but I know who does." he headed over to the fireplace and Sirius's face dropped as Snape called out for Malfoy Manor.

"Ah Severus… and Black, hello. What can I do for you?" Lucius looked curiously at the man on the sofa but shrugged and turned back to his friend.

"Those books on the Fae. Do you still have them?"

Lucius pondered slightly, mentally cataloging his library,

"I do indeed. I'm guessing this is urgent information?"

"Unfortunately" Snape sighed.

Lucius nodded and stood, quickly heading out of view of the fire.

Sirius and Severus could hear Lucius conversing with his (now ex) wife and what sounded like a house elf before he stepped through the fire into the small sitting room.

"Here. I have the one you mentioned and two more of a similar nature. Who is it that is dabbling in Fae magic?" he asked, looking between the pair.

"Hopefully nobody. Apparently Miss Lee has had something Fae blocking her scrying attempts" Snape answered.

"Scrying?" Lucius queried,

"Yeah, she said it mentioned something about a Lotus and a Forest. She was in a bit of a state" Sirius replied.

Kanda froze by the lab door. Lotus? He was thrown back to the nightmare he had. That woman had called him Lotus. And the Forest? Was that the owner of the green eyes he had seen. Was it Faeries and what did it mean? And why were fairies blocking Lenalee's visions? He knew then that he'd need to do some research of his own. Maybe he could sneak the books from Black - or ask Lavi if he'd seen anything on the subject. He headed into the room after double checking that everything was finished with the potion.

"Oh Lucius, I didn't hear you come in" he greeted the blonde.

"Ah Kanda. Severus wanted some books from me"

"I see. Are you going to hang around?" Kanda asked him slyly. Severus smirked but stayed silent. Lucius noticed this and narrowed his eyes at the swordsman.

"Hmm. Why?"

"Just because I thought you might enjoy the company of a certain Alma who is currently residing in the courtyard. I know you've both been writing recently"

Sirius watched confused as the blonde gained a light blush and coughed in embarrassment.

"I uh, maybe I could give him a visit. Which courtyard would this be?"

"By Gryffindor" Kanda supplied and Lucius nodded,

"Right. I'll be seeing you. Severus, Black. Kanda" he glared at the third occupant who smirked back and left the room.

"So, Malfoy and Alma?" Severus tilted his head at his partner who shrugged with a smirk,

"Alma keeps getting letters and Minerva informed me of the pretty little blush he gets every time and the dreamy look. Imagine her shock when she saw the Malfoy crest on the envelope" Kanda tried to keep a straight face but Severus's small lip curl had him snorting. Sirius looked between the pair and shook his head.

"Right. Are you alright with doing the research or do you want me to do it?" Sirius asked the potions master.

"I'll do it - Kanda can help"

"I can help with what?" Kanda asked once he finished chuckling.

"Researching Fae magic. Apparently your sister is having problems with 'interference'"

"Oh yeah sure, if it's to help Lena" Kanda replied quickly, happy that he didn't have to hunt down the rabbit.

"That's sorted then. I'll let Lenalee know and…"

"We'll say if we find anything relevant" Snape finished and Sirius nodded,

"Thank you"

"First your brother paired off and now your sister. How are Walker and Hearst faring romantically?" Severus teased after Black exited their rooms. Kanda rolled his eyes and flopped onto the sofa, picking up one of the books on the pile.

"Well we've been waiting for Tim to ask Hermione out since almost the third week but he's too busy and she's too awkward." Snape rolled his eyes at that as he waved his wand over the coffee pot.

"Unsurprising"

"And well Moyashi will probably end up as a massive cliche" Kanda admitted with a grin as he accepted the coffee from Severus.

"How so?" Snape asked warily as he sat beside the younger.

"Well who else could love the wolf but the one who turned him?" he parodied a narrator voice and Snape snorted into his coffee.

"Probably"

"Thank you" Kanda said suddenly and Snape raised an eyebrow,

"For what?"

"Helping Allen. Even though it means creating another creature you fear. It means a lot" Kanda took his hand and tugged him so he could kiss him properly. Snape flushed and shrugged,

"Well, considering he'd prefer it to whatever the alternative is, it seemed the more humane option"

Kanda hnned as he dragged the professor into a longer kiss.

"Still, thank you" he said as they broke apart.

"You're welcome," Snape said finally, kissing Kanda's hair softly before grabbing another Fae book.