Orion didn't know how he did not flinch either himself or his boy, his only boy if what Eileen said was true.
But could he accept a MUGGLE raised boy as his heir? Was it even worth it to confront Arcturus about it? The man could bloody change his mind and make that bastard Alphard his heir.
Ok, not that half-breed. Arcturus was not mental and know that Blacks would fall with that idiot in charge. A stupid man who believed the best of any person. He would be eaten alive by those snobish gaggle of wolves .
Could he plan for the child of Andromeda and that Mudblood? Arcturus had only but accepted him into the family, going as far as letting him shedding his name and take the Blacks. The child of that union was 90 percent a metamorph, and in that case the grandson/daughter of Cygnas would be 100 percent a metamorph.
No, he was too sweet on Regulus, as much as a man like him could be Sweet on anyone.
"Father?"
Oh, he was here? Where he had even apparated them?
He looked at the dark green theme of the room, the old money style of 30s and all those portraits surrounding the area.
It was the old Manner, in which Arcturus lived. It seemed it lacked its owner now.
So it meant he was definitly here. Arcturus was a weird man, when he was home, he made it look like it was empty, and when he leaved he made sure it looked as if he was inside.
Prickly suspicious ass.
So he was in.
Good.
"Floo back to the house"
"but…"
"no but, no nothing. I am tired of your constant whining and nagging. You saw your mudblood Friend, isnt that enough for you"
His only son was watching him, wide eyed, and afraid. He had not understood that he was standing above him , making the boy shrink on himself.
It disgusted him.
When Arcturus wanted to drive a point, he was much more creative and heavy handed with spells and punishing than Walburga ever hoped to be. Cygnas, the older brother, cowered every time, just like Regulus now. The sniveling Fucker made Arcturus more angry, and he took it on him.
By merlin was he not angry all the times!
And he never cried.
Nor backed away.
That defiance, that he never cried or begged, made him like Sirius more. He thought he was like himself.
Now, wtchinng this..this shameful display of his own son… his blood…
"Leave the boy be, Orion. You have done enough for a day"
So Arcturus hated that he made the little bugger afraid?
Where was this side when he beat him like a.. like a muggle when he found out He was about to break the deal with Burga?
"you heard him, get lost now"
Regulus did not need to be told twice.
"what has gotten you in such a mood? You usually save it for Burga" Arcturus said, sitting himself in the sofa, taking a sip of wine.
"at least in your younger days, it was followed by make-up rough sex with potential for breeding. Now you lack the sac, so you take it on a boy?"
Orion was a hair away from losing it compeletly. The gall, the bloody gall of this viper.
" he is even older than me when you started the tretment, didn't you say it builds character?"
Arcturus mainly changed the angle he was sitting, not even offering him a seat" he is a calm and collected boy with a good head.you were another story. You needed it to get it into your skull that not everything is to be how you want."
And he exploded then" shut up!"
"shut the hell up you shameless wanker! You always hit me when you could not bloody keep it in your pants when you saw your whore, when you saw Prince fumbl.."
He never saw when Arcturus apparted in front of him, disarmed him and nor the punch directly to his face.
"talk ill of her again, and that would be your death warent" said Arcturus, a murderous look in his eyes hand on his wand.
Orion even did not know how to feel ashamed. He was at his mercy , again. even after all these years he could not stand up to this creature. But what he could not compensate in duelling or strength, he could with words.
He spit the blood on the carpet, not minding of the bloody price,
" you are all bark Arcturus. When you kind of cheated on your Beloved EVELYN with the likes of my mother. And you're one to talk. If it was even marriage contracts, but no. you did it to fucking preserve the family, the Blacks.
Or did you?
Because if you did it just becaause of that, and never slept with my mother unless it was for the required heir and spare, WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ALPHARD BEING YOUR BASTARD?"
Arcturus staggered.
Good.
"so it is true then? He is yours? Yours and…"
Arcturus sighed" you wont understand boy"
Orion stood up, pressing his teeth so he would not scream bloody murder.
"oh? Do tell FATHER"
"the woman .. she did it out of a favor, never told me of the child until it was late. And at first, we thought it was Arasmus. And then, he would never inherit, so why bother?"
Interesting, if he wanted to hear his lies. He could not pitty him, not now, not ever. If the man was on fire, he wouldn't spit on him to lessen it.
And now…
"suppose you are telling the truth, and that's a big if, what about concealing the fact that Sirius is his, that my fucking heir is your bastard's son?"
Arcturus was speechless. Orion desperatly searched his face for a sign to tell him it was one great lie.
But there wasn't any.
A minute passed without any of them moving, in silence.
"tell me oldman, what is your end game? You would know I never make Regulus the heir, that I would go as far as marrying a second time to ensure another son. You know that the family mgic only accepts a head if the person is strong enough, both in magic and mind. and if not, it would kill them by siphoning their magic out of them"
Arcturus said nothing.
Orion's mind was racing.
What would be the end game? It seemed that Arcturus did not plan for Sirius to inheirt, if he never planned for his father Alphard, what would be the point for offering another one with Mud blood in his vains? He knew as long as there was another one, old enough, wise enough and strong enough, the family magic would not accept that boy. Something Orion still hoped for before knowing of his true parentage.
But Arcturus did not plan on that, did he?
Further thinking on his behaviour towards Regulus, one could think he had selected him for the lordship from the start. Even now, he had not mentioned the possiblity of the future metamorph to inherit…
So what?
Arcturus was like devil incarnate, he had plans within plans and backups for backups. There must be another option, or he would have been more tough with Regulus.
If he felt guilty for losing Evelyn that mush he left his marriage bed after gainig two sons, and never stepped out of but once…denying himself the pleasure of sex as a punishment…he was old fashioned like that, or maybe hated to be compared to his casanova of a brother, so he did what he did not and didnt do what he did. Either way,there would be a good explanation.
If only Eileen was here, she would know what his schedule was.
The penny dropped.
Eileen,clever Eileen who was his future bride for a time.
Eileen, who his father arranged the contract with, so he could be remotly connected to the love of his life.
Eileen who was Evelyn's daughter, only thing left of her and and Severus, her son.
His son too if she was right. A perfect pure blood, from HER line, carrying HER blood.
No that could not be!
His breath hitched.
"you knew. You about Severus" he murmured softly.
Arcturus only turned his face, staring at the portrait of their family, that showed nothing but an imaginary fake picture of a happy family.the portrait of him, his parents and his brother, when they were too young to know anything of real life.
Those forced smiles on his parents face. That happy free laughter both brothers lacked sorely in their adult life.
Orion's whole world crumbled. He could clearly understand Arcturus unexplainable behaviour this past year. why he allowed Regulus to write to a half-blood.Now he could see why he had gone and saved a lowly supposedly half-blood from Rita Skeeter, or why he had indulged his whim of allowing Andromeda to marry a muggleborn.
He was training him too, in a way.
"I saw his name in the family tapestry, the true one at the head of the house disposal, not that sham in Grimmauld, the day he was born.it was late as it was, him being born out of wedlock. So I left him there, thinking him as a far fetched plan,Sirius was there already, and you were still young. Black's always had a set of sons, or a trio of daughters. I gathered if all failed, I could rely on him. I was surprised he was who he was, the way he was. I only meant for him to be a back-up. It was only from the start of this year, seeing him gaining allies and being worthy that I considered him"
A back-up? He had been deprived of his true heir and son, forced to raise a bastard, son of a bastard thinking he was training his heir. All the while his son was being brought up with muggles? His son, born out of wedlock And worse, he had compeletly neglected his true born education, Regulus was a damn coward.
Sirius was not even his.
And in his heart, Orion knew he had done this, at least for this year, so Evelyn's bloodline could finally inherit Black fortune.
Out of spite.
In that moment , many things in his mind righted itself.
A paradigm shift.
He was finally broken out of his childish need for his approval. His kid dreams of one day, being someone he would be proud of. That he became a father to him for real.
He knew he was nothing to him but a means to an end. A tool so that this merlin forsaken family continued. If this stone-hearted fucker left his so-called love in the hands of that psycho, Prince guy,
If he had only gotten children to fullfill his duty, not caring one bit for his wife or sons..
Why it took him by surprise when he had brought up Alphard as his brother's bastard? Why it hurt to know he had known about his wife stepping out of marriage and never told a soul? Why he knew of Sirius never going to inherit, unless the whole family gone extinct, and kept mum?
It hurt.
It burned his heart,dried his tears, and killed his feelings towards the man for ever.
The funny thing is, if he showed even an once of remorse, his stupid heart would forgive him.
And yet
He did not.
Oh,He could even thank the man for breaking that bad habbit! That sliver of childish hope…
For making him to grow up for the last time, leaving those useless feelings.
Arcturus wanted to shame him one last time, when he wanted to declare his heir, Sirius, knowing fully he was both unsuitable as a character and as a Black born of the Lord of the house, making it possible that he lost his sanity over time.
With Regulus being the way he was, Severus could inherit.
A son he would not know about if Eileen had not told him.
"even if I forgave you for everything, for every tiny thing that ruined my life, I wouldn't forgive you for this"
"and remember, Arcturus, that boy will never be a Lord so far I have a say in it." He said it, looking Arcturus in the eyes directly.
Voice like ice.
He would cut the tumor that was his bastard brother's bastard, and take Eileen's deal, only for him to select Regulus at the end. He would burn Arcturus dream of letting Evelyn's line inherit.
He was a heartless monster, but he would not let his trueborn son live in filth, born out of wedlock or not, he did not deserve to be left there, in that neighborhood. Near hookers and thieves and criminals,also honoring his vow to Eileen was a must. He would not become a lier and a deal breaker like Arcturus.
He had to train Regulus.
He had to make way for casting Burga out without sharing a knot with her.
He had to keep Sirius on a leash, it would not do for everyone to mock him for his unfaithful wife and raising a bastard.
Severus would never be the Lord of any house on his watch. He would play the arasmus to Regulus Arcturus, the Cygnas to Orion.
Running after money and prestige like a dog, but never get it.
He had to make adjustments to his will.
He left the man on his own, apparating to Gringotts.
Life in spinner end moved on.
Seriously, if Severus heard his parents saying 'darling ' to him, or calling eachother sweet-heart one more time, he would go and get himself thrown in Azkaban for the summer.
"babe would you pass the salt?"
"of course princess"
Bullex! His father was never a 'babe' in his life and his mother was never princess material !
That fake sweetness made his stomch turn.
And his mother's stomach grow and grow.
Add it to his constant fear for when , and how it would end. And estimating the backlash and when to avoid getting hit by shattered pieces of this pretend peace.
He also was busy fretting over his mind.
He didn't know if he was the severus of future, the severus of now, or a bloody mix of the two.
Although he knew things of the future, about his mother's death, Lily abondoning him and joining death eaters, large parts of it was empty. Emerald said it was that he had depended on occlumency so much in his last year that the memories needed time to unfold,some were too harsh for a child his age and would drive him mad, and that they would re-surface with time and his occlumency and core growing in strength.
He had some double memories, of his first year.
His year in slytherin, in bits and his year as a hufflepuff. He counted his lucky stars that at least he had not any flashback, or nightmares so far this summer.
Wasn't that confusing? Like hell it was!
He still didn't understand why he was getting a sister now, and feared that it had happened last time and he was not aware because the baby was lost.
He feared if he could be a bad brother or a good one, and beside his short time with Reg, he had no idea.
Did babies fart? Do they burped themselves or they needed to be made to do it? How would one change a diaper? If the baby was sick, should they get it to a muggle doctor or not?
Why older him didn't get a crash course in baby care?
Stupid, stupid adult!
If it was only this…
Oh no. all his friends sent letters, of course not to his house! God knew what Tobias would do and what would happen to this fragile peacefull they ha.
It went all straight To Evanses.
Well, all besides Reg's, until a week ago.
You see, he kept sending letters by that grotchy elf that called him master's bastard brother or mudblood, and no amount of persuading made him listen to sense.
Then Reg didn't stop whining.
How sirius was nagging at him and teasing him.
How his father- their father should he say?- had acted weirdly towards him and sirius after the party. That he had apparated them into arcturus living room and he had floo back to house, alone.
How he was livid , and acted as if he was disgusted with him and his brother these days, that he was cold and distant.
That he had made him learn family names from 1500. That he forced him to read books and get his wand earlier so he could practice.
And he went on and on.
Severus just wished for him to stop nagging, whinning , crying like a baby because his DAD acted cold. If tobias acted cold and distant, it was chritmass for severus.
Apparently, he mustn't have told him that.
So now he was sulking. And not writing him at all.
Maybe severus felt a little jealous. There was a good chance that Orion was his father.
And yet
And yet he had left him to suffer.
He never wanted to be a Lord or such shit, but could you blame him for wanting acceptance?
Respect of his peers? Friends? A real family?
It just burned him from inside that orion had not even bothered with him in his future-past.
It made his insides twist and ache that his own supposed brother, Sirius was his biggest tormentor.
All for his mother sleeping with the wrong man, a married man.
And him born out of marriage.
How much miseary could have been avoided if Orion manned up and claimed him?
And again, he doubted.
There was another chance he was really tobias son, and Sylwan had only taunted them, or had them on. The only evidence was a piece of a photo, and the name of a ritual.
There was a chance he was Sylwan's. that he wanted to kill him because he was his rivel and made that whole story up.
There was a chance he was another one's son, other people who had taken part in that ritual.
Who knew?
And Severus was not keen on getting inside Nurmengaurd and face a retired dark lord and an aspriring dark lord to be.
Thank you very much.
On his other Friend's side, Gideon was too busy snogging Amelia, and Fabian too busy supervising, or so he said in his letter.
Frank had gone to Italy, and now write him in his horrible italian. He thought it was so funny he knew italian and severus didn't.
In fact sev knew abit. But frank was only writing him gossips of italian magical royalty. He never asked for a reply. Just severus sending him hello from time to time was enough.
Boring.
Charity had sent him choclate , and that she was visiting Remus. No amount of begging made her back away, because she thought they had been harsh with their prank on holloween, and the boy needed a second chance.
One would say she was a naïve child. A 12 yers old petulant child.
Oh wait, she was.
Nearly all his friends were. Barring Amelia, twins and Tonks.
He was fed up.
Severus told her to not write him until she wanted to talk about anything that was not fucking remus Lupin related.
And Marlene…
He thought at least she had sense. She had sent him a fascinating book on the role of artimancy in defence, and Severus had sent a rather lengthy letter thanking her.
Then he reached a certain page, and a note slipped out, with Marlene handwriting.
He was more than horrified.
"dear friend
I would like to know if you want to use this particular page for any reason, on any girl in the future"
The info on that page being calculations on making a love potion strong enough to make one fall for someone for a total year.
Horrified.
And when he told her in a rather rude manner that he would NEVER EVER NEVER use that, and no there was NO girl in his life.
She just sent a note.
"It rather not be, I like you single"
Weird.
Weird weird girl. One would never know what was on her mind!
That left Peter.
It took him by surprise that the boy was the most sensible of his gaggle of friends. That he could actually hold a conversation and be a pleasant penpal.
Thus the problem, today.
You see, Lily in this time, had gone to saty with Marryand Dorcas, again for a month. Usually, he got the letters from either Mrs Evans, or Mr Evans.
Today, it would be only Petunia in the house.
Imagine his dread.
Peter had to WAIT.
Yes he was plenty brave, but not SUICIDAL. Petunia had recently entered puberty, she was between 13 and 14, her moods not improved one bit.
Also she had aquired a boyfriend, her first one, who had dumped her only a month ago.
There was a limit of teenage angst he could tolerate. Regulus childish tantrums, charity's stupid behaviour towards Lupin, Lily leaving him AGAIN even when he was not an evil slytherin to go hang out with those bitches…
Oh don't forget Fabian nagging , Frank being too much pleased with himself to know SOMETHING his genious friend did not know, his Mom, His unborn sibling, Marlene thinking him capable of Drugging someone with love potion…
Petunia was not on his list.
He left the house early in the mornings, but he could not find a job due to his size. They never believed him to be 12, thought it hilarius that he, barely 9 or 10, wanted to work. In their eyes, he had not even finished primary, working was ridiculous.
Still, he left the house, even with no hope of finding a job.
It was a terrific weather for a summer. He had for once, some clothes of his own , not just hand me down rags. Courtesy of Longbottoms of course.
He sat near the river and watched the city.
The river, was the unspoken boundery line between poverty and middle class. the side they were on, consisted of old same colored houses, built alike. The abondened factory was a place for addicts, hookers, all sort of criminals. It was dark, dingy and about past its prime.
The other side on the other hand, had houses with bright colors, with gardens and parks and shops that sold more than second hand rags and used items. They belonged to happy families with happy, clean children.
The park he and Lily met, was a kind of shared space, both poor and rich came and had fun.
At this time at least. In grown severus memories, this park was abondoned too.
Strolling down the familiar way, he reached the park, only for him to find it not empty.
The red faced angry girl didn't lose the chance to throw the first punch" what are YOU doing here SNAPE? Spying on me yet again?"
He had jinxed himself, didn't he? That shouting, Snape..Spy.. just made him half thrown into a memory of his older self, not self.
He pushed it back with all his might.
He was severus the hufflepuff.
He had real friends.
He gave up persuing Lily.
When his heartrate came down, Petunia was just a shoulder length away from him, watching him with suspicion.
"hey what's up with you?"
He tried not to snap" Petunia, do you like being called Tuney?"
The girl scowled " forget I asked. What a stupid question is that?"
"well, humour me anyway"
She just shrugged" you do damn well know I hate it"
"so, would you mind not calling me Snape, or a spy? I am not calling you Tuney, am i?"
That got her attention" isnt it your name? why would you.."
In the past, he would have snapped at her. He had tried being patient and she was pressuring him for info.
"just…"
"Oi Snape! What you doing with a defenceless girl?"
Oh bloody fabulous! This day was getting better and better!
And there he was, in the flesh. The bane of his existance, James ARROGANT Potter.
"that's none of your bussiness at first, and second what the hell are you doing here?"
Potter got closer " two can play at the same game, that's none of your bussiness." Then he looked calculativly at Petunia.
" oh this your sister, isnt it? Ugly like you"
Petunia balled her fists and throw a look of disgust, getting the look of I-am-older-than-you-brat and shot back " watch your mouth you uncoth child. I am not his anything and .."
Potter only laughed " oh look! Snapy! Even your sister does not want to be associated with the likes of you, an ugly good for nothing puff!"
Severus had to deal with it, it was going to be messy otherwise. Potter itched for a fight, never left him alone until he had throw a punch or two.
"Potter, I do beilieve that you bloody well know I am an allies of both Longbottoms and Boneses. I just recently saved Regulus Black, and all these families OWE me. Do you know what happens if, if only I happened to mention your unwanted presence and harassing to either of them?"
He was not laughing anymore.
"so you are going to do somethings for me. I will even explain it so it be easier for your brain to follow. First you tell me how you are here, then you will appologize to her for calling her ugly"
Potter only squared his shoulders, getting a defiant look:
"I will never…"
This was getting out of hand. He had to deal with it swiftly.
Severus had to."Kreacher!"
The elf popped and Petunia shrieked in surprise.
"master mudblood friend asked??"
Severus tuened to Potter : well?"
" fuck it Snape. Well missy over hear, sorry for calling you ugly. And snape, I asked Remus to ask Burbage where Lily lived."
Severus blood was boiling, but what was he to do? That spineless fucker had again ruined something for him. If only Charity did not excuse him all the time!
Focus! Potter first!
"and pray tell, how you got here?"
"nightbus, what else?"
He then turned to kreacher " will you get Heir Potter to your residence? I know your other master , Sirius would be happy to see him"
"but I was there yesterday!"
"quite Potter. Just be happy I am not telling this to anyone I mentioned. Leave and do not come back without being invited, or next time, I will call on my debts"
When potter reluctantly left, Petunia asked calmly " what was, what was that"
"a house elf. And that was Potter, a Griffindore in our year who just hates my guts for whatever reason"
"oh."
A few seconds of silence, and she cleared her throat.
She then shyly looked at him "I was not so nice to you, but.. thanks for making him appologize. And.. even threatening him to leave me,Snape"
Severus winced. he did not know what to do with a shy, not hostile Petunia.
"call me Severus"
She looked at him questioning him
"ok Severus, but why not Snape? Its your name. also who are Burbage and Remus who know where we live? Are they dangerous? What is.. what is mudblood?"
He just shake his head "maybe another day. Can we get to your house so I can get my letter, please? "
She shrugged. Then walked towards her house, motioning him to follow.
When the pair left the park, there was definitly less hostilty between them, maybe the begining of a friendship.