For Our Parents Willed So

For Our Parents Willed So

*

Get Used to It

*

James felt nervous. He'd told his friends in the breakfast that he needed to talk with them after the lessons. They'd been confused about that, just like they'd been confused about the fact that he went with Severus to the Ravenclaw table to eat, or the fact that Severus was on their lessons. But James had told them to wait, and they did, not asking anything.

Now, it was their last lesson, which happened to be Charms.

"Now, we'll have a little change in our syllabus," said Professor Flitwick as soon as they all were on their places. "I know I said we'd be studying the Growth Charm today, but instead, I've decided that we'll try the Bat Radar Charm first."

James noticed that Severus's head snapped up at this, and the Slytherin looked suddenly very interested.

"The basic is, after casting the spell, you're able to let out ultra sounds, as well as sense your surroundings from the echoes of the sounds. To most of us, the spell is merely entertaining, but rather useless," Professor Flitwick said, "since while you're using it, you cannot see anything. However, I do think that some would find it useful." At this, he casted a meaningful glance towards Severus, who of course didn't see it. "Now, turn to the page 247 of your book. And remember, to remove the spell, you have to say the incantation backwards, so better learn it well at first, for you won't be able to see the book once you've cast the spell."

Nodding, they all started to study the book. James opened the right page for them both, saving his fiancé from the difficulty of finding it. Then he watched as Severus bent his head down, probably most of old habit, but his fingers were now openly flying over the text. The Slytherin didn't even try to hide that he was reading with his fingers and not his eyes. He didn't have to, not anymore.

After just a moment, the Slytherin raised his head and smiled slightly. Drawing his wand, he swished it twice over his eyes, whispering the incantation. Then he drew a sharp breath.

"Does it work, Severus?" asked James quietly.

"Yeah," the Slytherin said with an equally quiet tone. "This is - this is weird. Weird but amazing." He turned towards James, his lips slightly ajar, and the Gryffindor guessed he was sending the radar sound between his lips. "I can sense where everything is," continued Severus, "or at least everything above the waist level. Can you imagine, James? It's almost like I saw!"

Grinning a bit, James himself did the spell. At the same second as he'd casted it, he couldn't see anything - it was like darkness had fallen over him. He felt horrfied at the thought of having to live like that always, and suddenly, he felt even more sympathy towards Severus than before.

However, as soon as he opened his mouth to cancel the spell, something changed. He'd obviously let out some ultra sounds, since after just a second, he sensed something odd.

James had no way to understand the feeling, as he was used to observe the world with his eyes. However, the spell affected his brain, making him able to handle the new information. And somehow, like he'd seen even when he didn't see, a clear picture of his surroundings flew to his mind. Of course, he didn't sense the colours of things, and he didn't quite see them. He just suddenly knew where everything was, what was the shape and size and direction of everything, and his brains and imagination turned this knowledge into a picture.

"Say," he said carefully, "do you... see the things? Like, with colour and everything?"

His senses weren't enough to form the expression or features of his fiancé, but he could hear the sad smile as Severus replied, "No. I of course read from the book that'd happen, but as I haven't seen properly for ong time, I have no idea of what everything should look like. Shit, I don't even know for sure how something looks like something. I just, well, know where everything is."

A new wave of sympathy flew to James's mind. "Tell me," he continued, "I heard from somewhere that blind people, who haven't been born blind, can actually see dreams. Is that true?"

"In a way," Severus replied, and shrugged - the movement was recognizable enough even to the "radar" to come into James's knowledge. "I've also heard that, and I must say that even though I do 'see' dreams, it's not the same way as you see pictures and everything. Unclear forms, colours, as clear pictures as I can remember after seven years of being almost blind. But yeah, I do see dreams. Those who are born blind have only sounds, smells, and other signs of things as dreams."

"Oh." Glancing around, James noticed why nobody was paying attention to their conversation. Everyone was talking wildly, hands waving in the air, laughter echoing from every corner of the class. He could just wonder how everybody's radars didn't mess with each other.

As he voiced his question, Severus in fact had an answer. "It's a bit different to everyone," he said, smiling. "Just like a normal voice is unique to everyone, the ultra sound is a bit different. Your senses only catch the echoes of the sounds you've sent yourself. It's not more complicated than that."

"How can you know all that?" wondered James. "I did read the whole chapter, and it spoke nothing about those things!"

"I've had a lot of time to read," his fiancé replied calmly. "As I cannot go outside without risking tripping over something, or just wander around or fool around with my so-called friends, all I usually have to do is reading."

"I see," James said, and in his mind vowed to take Severus outside as soon as possible.

Just then, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Mister Snape, will you stay after the lesson?" asked the professor. "You too, Mister Potter." They both nodded, a bit confused. What on earth could it be?

As the end of the lesson came nearer, James cancelled the spell. Severus, however, did not do so for obvious reasons. They both waited as the other students left, although the Marauders didn't leave without giving James some curious glances. Then, they walked to Flitwick, waiting to hear whatever he had to say.

"Now, Mister Snape, Madam Pomfrey has informed us teachers about your situation," said the tiny professor. "The whole school will be informed of your accident during the dinner tonight. I'm only asking you that, while this spell is certainly very useful to you, you wouldn't use it all the time. You cannot be dependant on magic as a way to compensate your lack of sight, since you might be forced to a situation where magic is not an option. If you cannot cope on your own, you might be in trouble without spells and charms."

"I understand," Severus said slowly. James heard as he quietly murmured the cancelling incantation.

"Also," continued Flitwick, "that's the reason why you'll be taking extra lessons with Professor Wilson to learn to read Braille. The first lesson is in the Ancient Runes classroom tomorrow night at seven o'clock. Mister Potter, we talked about the matter in the staff Common Room. We've come to the decision that, all things considered, it'd be the best if you, too, learnt Braille."

James frowned, but nodded then. Severus also nodded, although not without a bit of hesitating.

"Now, go," Flitwick said then, smiling slightly. "I do believe your friends are waiting for you."

"His friends, not mine," Severus muttered under his breath, but didn't argue with the teacher.

"That we'll see," muttered James, taking him by hand and almost forcefully dragging him out of the classroom.

Just like he'd expected, his friends waited for them right outside the classroom.

"What was that about?" asked Lily curiously. "Why'd he ask you to stay?"

"Yeah," Sirius said, "and what's the matter with you two, anyway?" He eyed Severus suspiciously, seemingly still not having given up his prejudices and hatred.

"Well, to make a long story short, I and Severus came to a truce yesterday," James said, only to be interrupted by Peter's hastied question.

"Woah, did you just say, 'Severus?'" questioned the fair-haired boy, looking perplexed.

"Yes, I did," James admitted. "A part of our truce is that we're now in first name basis."

This time, he was interrupted by the loud applauding coming from Remus and Lily, who were both smirking broadly.

"Would you please let me finish?" asked James, frustrated. His mood was certainly not helped when he saw the slightly amused curl of lips on Severus's otherwise blank face.

"Sure, go ahead," Remus said, the broad grin never fading. "I'm curious to hear more of this."

"Well, after you hear the circumstances of our coming to this truce, you're not probably grinning," said James grimly. Then, drawing a deep breath, he prepared to tell the well-planned lie about the "accident" in the previous day's Potions class. However, he was once again interrupted, now even before he could start properly.

"My father is a bastard," Severus said, sounding surprisingly calm. "When I was nine, he caused the potion I was working on to splash all over me. The potion burned my eyes, taking away about 90 percent of my eyesight. It hasn't got any better since then. Instead, my sight has been turning to worse - the reason why James insisted on us faking that 'accident' yesterday. Today, at the dinner, everybody'll hear the cover story we made Madam Pomfrey to accept. That's why I'm on your lessons, and, from now on, your table at the Great Hall - James has been assigned to take care of me."

Nobody said anything. Instead, they all stared at Severus, their jaws hanging open - including James's. He'd certainly not expected the Slytherin to tell the truth to his friends.

"Shut your mouths," Severus snapped then. "I cannot maybe see you, but I know you're looking like bloody fly traps right now, waiting for an insect to fly into your mouths. You too, James. I might just as well tell everything, they'd find out sooner or later anyway."

"You - you're blind?" managed Sirius to ask at last.

"Almost," snorted the Slytherin. "So forgive me that I'm not flattering you for your so-called good looks, Black. To say it as it is, I've never quite seen you, not really."

"If you did, I'd become worried," Sirius muttered. "I mean, what kind of a person checks out his fiancé's best friend, even if the friend happens to be as gorgeous as I am?"

"Thinking highly about ourselves, aren't we?" asked Remus dryly. "I'd pick a blond any day." With this, he wrapped his arms around Pete's waist, resting his head against the taller boy's shoulder.

"Well, that's you," Sirius said, "and you've always been a bit odd anyway." Then, he ducked as one of Remus's books flew towards him.

Severus grasped James's arm. "Can I still slip from my promise?" he asked quietly, almost pleadingly - as pleadingly as he was capable of, anyway.

"No," James said, rolling his eyes as his two friends started to wrestle on the floor. "If I have to stand them, then you have to, too."

"Let's go to the Gryffindor Common Room," suggested Peter, casting a pained glance towards his fiancé. "They'll arrive there eventually." Lily, James, and Severus agreed to that, although the Slytherin was a bit wary as he nodded.

They hadn't got even halfway the corridor as they heard a yell behind them, "Oi, guys! Wait for us!" After a moment, Remus and Sirius ran to them, their hair muzzled by th fight.

"Don't you ever learn?" asked Lily scoldingly. "Why do you always have to fight?"

"Well," said Remus, glancing towards Sirius, who finished, "we're guys."

"They're guys too!" exclaimed the young witch, pointing at the three other boys. "And I didn't see them rolling on the floor!"

"They're boring boys," Sirius said, wrinkling his nose. Remus didn't say anything, he just nodded enthusiastically.

Severus snorted. "That explains quite a lot of things," he said, not to anyone in particular. "You've banged your head to the floor so often that it has injured your brains permanently."

"Hey!" shouted Sirius in protest. "I got eleven OWLs last year!"

"So did I," the Slytherin replied calmly, not raising to the bait. "And I'm blind. So how does that show that you'd be any more intelligent than an ordinary, seeing student?"

An embarrassed flush rose to Sirius's cheeks as the other Gryffindors laughed at him. "I hate you," he grumbled to his once-enemy.

"No, you don't. You're only saying that to make me feel better," Severus said casually. Then he said, "I truly hope you know where you are going. I've got no idea what is in this part of the castle."

"Oy, poor Snapey-poo is lost," squealed Sirius in fake enthusiasm. "Quick, let's find a classroom and lock him there, he won't find back to his room before next week!"

"Do that, and I swear I will castrate you," threatened Severus with a cool tone.

"Then you'd have Professor Malfoy at your neck," Peter pointed out. "Do you really want to be responsible of the Malfoy family line not continuing?"

"A good point, but not good enough," argued the blind boy. "Lucius could magically get himself an heir from a pig, it'd be far better than one created from Black."

"Nice to see you are getting along," chuckled James, making sure that he walked between Severus and Sirius, stopping the Animagus from attacking the other boy. That he would surely have done otherwise, considering the look of both rage and hardly hidden amusement on his face. Severus's face was just as cool as always, but James caught a glimpse of a slight almost-smile in the corners of his lips.

At last, they reached the Fat Lady. Sirius tried to make Severus angry by demanding that he had to turn around and close his ears while they said the password, but much to his annoyance, Severus did just that. Now James was sure that he saw a smirk on his fiancé's face. Clearly he was enjoying the debate, much like Sirius himself.

When they went to the Common Room, everyone's eyes were drawn to Severus. A couple of students even got up as if to come nearer, but James's sharp comment stopped them. "I'm a Gryffindor, and he's my fiancé," the bespectacled boy snapped. "I don't give a fuck if he's a Slytherin, he's coming here and that's it. Any disagreements?" Nobody dared to say anything as he casted a threatening glare around them.

They took one corner of the room to themselves, casting some charms around it to keep anybody from hearing what they talked. Or, mostly, it was James who talked, and the others listened, Severus sometimes making a comment on something. After lengthy explanations, the other Gryffindors got a general picture of both Severus's childhood and the development of he and James's relationship. All details, however, were not given to them.

As James had stopped talking, Remus asked hesitantly, "So... you've never really seen us?"

Severus shook his head. "Nope," he replied. "I'm guessing that Black has darker hair than Pettigrew, but even that's mostly a guess with my sight."

"Very well." For some time, the werewolf seemed to be considering things. Then he asked, "Would you like to do that, like, feature-studying thing? The same you did to James?"

Hesitating a bit, Severus replied, "If I may."

They both stood, Remus walking nearer to the other boy. The other teens watched quietly as Severus raised his hands, running light fingertips all over Remus's face. As he at last let his hands down, he actually smiled. "Figures," he said dryly. "Your canines are so much stronger than those of a usual human that I could notice the difference even this way."

"Hey, don't blame me," the werewolf said with a slight smile. "It's not like I asked for it."

"No, it isn't," admitted the Slytherin quietly. "Any more than I asked for a bastard father."

After a moment of uneasy silence, Lily stood up. "I can be the next one," she said, faking a cheerful tone.

For some time, they just took turns being studied by Severus. After Sirius (whom the others had almost forced to it) had been "seen", the atmosphere had eased a lot.

"So, you'll be on all our lessons, eh?" Lily asked. "Better be ware, then. These guys usually create havoc, on purpose or not."

"Believe me, Evans, I've noticed it often enough on the Potions lessons," Severus replied dryly. "It was almost frightening to notice how surely James knew what to do to create an explosion that wouldn't do any real harm."

"Aw, was little Sev frightened?" squealed Sirius. "Don't worry, big and mighty Prongs will surely protect you!"

Snorting slightly, Severus replied, "Have you ever considered having your head examined, Black?"

The others watched in amusement as they continued the verbal lashing. "I'm sorry," James said in mock seriousness at one point, looking apologetically at Remus. "It seems that you've lost your favourite fight partner to my fiancé."

"I think I can live with that," the werewolf replied, shrugging. Then he grinned. "Besides, I can always join in."

As Sirius heard that, his face lit up. "Threesome!" he exclaimed eagerly.

The Gryffindors all laughed, while Severus covered his eyes with his hand - a rather pointless gesture, but it got the message through - and groaned.

"Please, tell me they're not always like this," he said then to the general direction of Lily.

"I'm sorry," the witch replied. "They're not always like this, though."

"No," Peter said with a little grin. "Usually, we're much worse!"

"Fuck," grumbled the Slytherin.

He regretted this immediately as Sirius's voice piped up, "Whom?"

*

The dinner time came soon. The Marauders, Severus, and Lily walked towards the Great Hall in one group. Once arriving there, they all headed to the Gryffindor Table, threatening glares from the Marauders silencing anyone who tried to argue about a Slytherin sitting there.

As everyone had settled on their place, the Headmaster rose from his seat.

"I have rather bad news to you," Dumbledore said gravely. "Because of an unfortunate accident in the Potions class, Severus Snape from Slytherin has lost most of his sight. I'm asking you fellow students to keep this in mind, as well as I'm reminding that anybody trying to use Mister Snape's disability on their advantage will be assigned a month's detention. Because Mister Snape's fiancé, James Potter from Gryffindor, has agreed to guide his fiancé, will Mister Snape from now on participate on the Gryffindor lessons, as well as eat in their table. I've also been asked to inform you that anybody having a problem with this can express their disagreements to Messieurs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, who'll be delighted to handle them."

At this, Sirius gave a doggy grin to a Gryffindor who'd been eyeing Snape accusingly. Although the grin looked happy to any teacher possibly observing them, the poor fifth-year Gryffindor didn't miss the threatening side of it. Shivering, he pulled his chair away from the Marauders and their new companion.

James noticed that, smiling approvingly. Even though Sirius kept up the hateful attitude, his actions, as well as Severus's, told more than well that there wasn't any real animosity between them. Partly this was because of James, partly maybe because they knew each other in other ways. Severus had told that he sometimes went to talk with Professor Malfoy - whom he considered a friend - and Sirius surely had caught something from these visits.

As they started to eat, James noticed that Severus was once again a bit uncertain, like he'd been at the breakfast and lunch. With a quiet voice, he told his fiancé where everything was, carefully leading the long-fingered hand to each thing as he listed them. James's friends watched intently this short interaction, as did most of the people in the Gryffindor Table.

In the end, Severus nodded, looking much more certain. "And just ask, if you need any help," James added, being sure to say this so quietly that even couldn't catch the words. Severus, however, caught them, and nodded again briefly - being almost blind, he had a better hearing than most people. Remus, of course, heard it also with his werewolf hearing, and gave them both an odd look before starting to eat.

James chose to ignore this odd look, starting to eat also.