Our Little One

.~*~.Our little one. ~*~.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sirius Memories

***************************************

This part of the chapter is not from any particular first-person POV.

This chapter is partly flashbacks.

[Speech] is Finnish.

***************************************

Severus stared quietly at the floor of the all-too-familiar room in the St. Mungo's. This had been the very place where he'd spent most of the four weeks during which Sirius had been in coma two years back. He could only hope that it wouldn't be like that this time, too.

He remembered all too well the last time he'd been sitting there, waiting for news about his husband. In fact, he remembered quite a few times of sitting there from that period of time.

***

2nd of March, 2002

*

"I'm sorry, Mister Black," the mediwitch said, and she looked genuinely sorry for him. "We cannot tell for sure whether your husband will survive."

As Severus heard these words, he felt like his world had just shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. And suddenly he realized just what Remus had felt during the weeks Lucius had been on the verge of death. He'd thought that he'd understood back then, Lucius was his best friend after all, but it hadn't been half as bad as this fear for his beloved.

It hadn't felt like his heart was just being torn apart.

***

4th of March, 2002

*

"We're doing our best, Mister Black," the mediwizard assured him. "However, there's little we can do right now. His physical injureis are no more a threat to him. We only have to wait until he wakes up."

"And when will that happen?" asked Severus snappishly. He didn't really have a reason to be snappish, the poor man was only doing his job, but the few last days had been really hard on him. He was at the end of his nerves now, and anybody nearby was just a target to take his irritation and hidden fear out on.

"We don't know," replied the other wizard with an apologetical expression. "It can happen any time now, really. Tomorrow, or next week, maybe. Maybe next month." Then, with a very quiet tone, he added, "Maybe not ever."

However, Severus did not believe that. He could not believe that, because it was a lie. Sirius lived, and he would live. He'd wake up from that fucking coma at any moment now, jump up, laugh, and ask for that blasted motorbike. And then Severus could yell at him and scold him for making him so worried, and then they'd both go home, and everything would be fine again.

A little voice in the back of his mind was yelling at him, telling him that it would not be so. He chose to ignore it, however. Quite calmly he reached for the bag on his hip, drawing out a phial of the Blocking Potion. Without another thought, he downed the potion. It worked just as well to the occasional waves of Divination or little presentiments that taunted him from time to time than to actual visions. And he certainly did not need that kind of disencouraging messages right now.

***

29th of March, 2002

*

"Mister Black?" the mediwitch asked hesitantly. "Mister Black, you should come here and soon."

"What now?" he asked warily, his gaze instantly snapping up from his hands, where it'd rested for the last two hours or so. "Has something happened to my husband?"

"Yes," she replied. However, instead of looking worried, she suddenly broke into a wide smile. "I'm happy to tell that he's finally woken up."

She'd barely finished her sentence when Severus was rushed passed her.

***

If there was one thing about Sirius that always made Severus wonder, it was his passion for language and wordplay. No matter where they went abroad, he always managed to get to talk with some local wizard, and learn the most amusing and interesting twists of the current language. Their lengthy stay in Finland had been a heaven to him, with many people around to teach him the complicated language.

***

10th of December, 2003

*

"Did you know that the longest non-compound word in existence is Finnish?"

"No, I didn't know that," Severus replied, shaking his head. He didn't raise his eyes from the document he was studying. "How long is it, then?"

"103 letters."

Now, Severus's eyes were raised. "You're not serious."

"Yes, I am, my name is indeed Sirius," his husband said with an irritating grin. "Like you should know very well by now, being my husband. Anyway, that amazing word is, in all its lengthy shine and glory, 'kumarreksituteskenteleentuvaisehkollaismaisekkuudellisenneskenteluttelemattomammuuksissansakkaankopahan.'"

Whistling, Severus nodded his head. "That's quite impressive," he had to admit. "But what on earth does it mean?"

"Nobody knows for sure," Sirius said, grinning. "The inventor of it died a long time ago. The witch who taught it to me, however, thinks that it's about 'Whether it would maybe still not be even in his ways not to present his habits of being pretending to be like those who seem to have people going bowing around them even though they don't, wouldn't it?'" With a shrug, he added, "She's not even halfly sure that it's correct, however, but she's working on it all the time."

After shaking his head disbelievingly, Severus snapped his eyes again at his husband. "I think you said that it's not a compound word?"

"Well, it's not! There's only one word as a base, 'kumartaa,' which means, 'to bow.' All those other bits are just little additions and postpositions that are not independent words in Finnish."

Severus shook his head again. He had a feeling that Sirius was going to greatly enjoy his time in the near future.

Just as well he had a feeling that he personally would not.

*

"These Muggles are insane," laughed Sirius, eyeing some parchment in front of him.

"Hmm?" replied Severus non-chalantly. "What is it now?"

"Their nursery songs," the Gryffindor said with a chuckle. "I got one of those translated, from word to word. And - well, look at it!"

Severus took the offered parchment, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. As he read the text, however, his eyes went very wide.

"It is raining, dropping wet,

Dick-o-dick-o-ding,

Dick-o-dick-o-ding.

Whole little Winnie the Pooh

Is so wet now, oh-oh-ooh,

Whole little Winnie the Pooh

Is so wet now, ooh."

The Potions Master raised his eyes at his husband. "You must be kidding," he said faintly. "They - they truly sing these to children?"

Sirius nodded, grinning. "Of course, those kids don't understand the other meanings," he said then with a smirk. "...Hopefully, that is."

Severus rolled his eyes again, smacking Sirius on the arm. "Not everyone is as perverted as you," he huffed.

"And that's why you love me," replied Sirius instantly, giving him the puppy eyes.

"Oh, shut up." And then, to make sure he was obeyed, Severus shut his mouth with his own.

***

Yes, two-minded meanings had always been Sirius's speciality. He'd been able to find obscene side-meanings from even the most innocent sentences and situations. There was absolutely nothing that could have avoided his sharp ears and twisted imagination. Nothing, not even the most innocent games of children.

***

7th of August, 2002

*

"A cock, a chicken, or a chick?"

Everyone was staring at Remus the moment the words left his mouth. "Erm... excuse me?" asked Sirius, looking more amused than he had any right to be.

"I didn't mean it that way," Remus replied frustratedly. "I just remembered a game I played with Romulus when we were little." He took a hay between his fingers. "See, it goes this way: One takes a hold of a hay that has seeds on it and asks the question of the others. They pick one of the options. Then the one holding the hay wipes it empty, this way -" he tugged his hand upward so all hayseed was stuck between his fingertips - "and looks at the shape of the seedball. If it's round, it's a chicken, if there's one or more longer 'tails' sticking up, it's a cock, and if it's just a little ball, meaning that some of the seed have been left to the hay, it's a chick. All the time speaking only about birds, of course. And if your pick is what comes out, well, you win."

"So, let me get this right," Sirius went on. "At first, you use your hand to take the seed off the stick, and then you can see from the balls whether the object of your attention is a cock, a chicken, or a chick?"

Severus groaned aloud and smacked Sirius's head. "Don't you ever think about anything else?" he hissed furiously.

"It's hard to think about anything else with you so near," replied the Animagus, flashing him a bright grin.

"Shut up," the Potions Master grumbled. "That's not going to save your hide."

"I know that," Sirius said, still grinning broadly, "but the sight of you blushing is worth it."

Severus was just about to kill his husband very slowly and painfully as Remus's impatient voice broke through their quarrel. "Well, what is it? A cock, a chicken, or a chick?"

"A cock, of course," Sirius laughed, wrapping his arms around Severus's shoulders. "That's always the best choice, isn't it, Sev?"

Shaking the arms away angrily, Severus grumbled, "A chicken." He deliberately ignored Sirius's annoyed expression.

"It seems that I'm left a chick," Lucius said, smirking and quirking an eyebrow.

"And you're so glad about that, I'm sure," said Remus dryly. He janked his hand upwards, tearing the tiny seeds from the hay. "There! It's a chick!" He showed them the tiny ball in his fingers.

"Are you sure it's not a cock?" teased Sirius. "You know, it's you in question, after all."

"I can assure you," Lucius said, raising an elegant eyebrow, "suggesting that the tiny thing we're seeing had anything to do with the size of Remus's member is a grave insult."

This, of course, brought up an annoyed groan from Remus, a smirk from Severus, and a fit of uncontrollable laughter from Sirius. Lucius himself just smirked, then went over to embrace his husband. His cane made it a bit awkward, but he still managed a hug.

"I'm sorry for embarrassing you," the blond mumbled into the werewolf's hair.

After a brief moment of silence, Remus replied, "Doesn't matter." Then he turned to kiss Lucius, who of course didn't protest.

"When's the last time you've apologized for embarrassing me?" asked Severus snappishly from his husband. "It must have been forever. Oh, forgive me, it has been forever -- you've never done that!"

"I'm not Lucius," replied Sirius calmly. "And it's kind of a good thing, anyway. Didn't you say once that you don't like blonds?"

With an irritated huff, Severus just rolled his eyes, finding it unnecessary to answer.

***

One of Sirius's best features was his ability to get well along with people, no matter what kind of people they were. Wherever they went, Sirius always could find somebody to talk to. Severus was the first to admit that he himself was about as hard to get along with as anybody could be -- he would not go as far as to call himself a "snarky bastard", but he had to grudgingly admit that to most people he was just that -- but his husband had always been great with people. Especially good with children, although their later years together he'd always seemed a bit sad and pensive around them, even though he tried to mask it with fake cheerfulness, and usually succeeded rather well. Before Severus hadn't understood the reason, but now, having his memories back to him, he understood better than ever.

***

23rd of December, 2003

*

"Welcome, dear guests," said a motherly-looking woman who resembled much Molly Weasley. "It's truly nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you two." She came forward and hugged them both. Yes, she was definitely like Molly Weasley.

"We don't want to intrude your home," Severus said politely as he'd managed to pry himself out of her arms, "but your husband -"

"Ah, yes," the woman smiled broadly. "I told him to invite you for the holidays. My name is Elisa, it's truly wonderful to meet you. We rarely have wizarding guests from other countries."

"Nice to meet you, too," Sirius said, flashing his most charming smile, then wrapped one of his arms on Severus's shoulders. The gesture seemed careless, but the possessive tone couldn't go unnoticed. "But you really shouldn't have invited us, we could have just as well stayed in the quarters your Ministry provided us."

"Nonsense," she huffed. "You two alone through the whole Christmas? There's no way I could allow that to happen, not when there's enough room for you in our home. I take it that you only need one room? Wait a minute and I'll call Mika to show you to the guest room we've prepared for you."

Severus shot a desperate glance towards his husband, who just grinned back. Sirius was clearly enjoying this, and, well, Severus didn't want to steal him that joy. He supposed he could stand their hostess's attentions over the holidays. He'd wanted to spend this time in peace with Sirius, but the happy look on the other man's face couldn't be ignored.

He'd face dragons and banshees if it made Sirius happy. He'd spend his Christmas in the middle of Dementors if it pleased his husband. Therefore, he could very well stand an overly-friendly woman.

Their hostess called out, "Mika!" A moment later, a grinning boy with messy brown hair and about ten years of age appeared to the doorway.

"Hey, you are those British wizards, right?" he asked with a bit clumsy but absolutely understandable English. "Cool!"

"Now, Mika, these are Misters Sirius and Severus Black," Elisa told her son. "Show them to their room, please?"

"Of course!" the boy exclaimed, then hurried out of the room. Sirius and Severus followed him.

"Here it is," Mika said a moment later, grinning at the door of the guest room. "By the way, are you brothers or husbands? When Dad told about you, Elina said you're brothers, but I said you're husbands."

"Well, you were right. We're indeed husbands," replied Sirius with a smile, grasping Severus's hand with his own in a clearly possessive gesture.

"Wow," the boy said, and grinned. "That's cool." And then, he went away.

"Well, at least they don't have prejudices," laughed Sirius as they took their shrunk trunks from their pockets and returned them to their normal size.

"You're telling me," snorted Severus. "Mika and Elina, eh? I wonder if there are more."

"I'm mostly wondering whether that Elina is a boy or a girl," his husband said with a grin. "I'd rather thought that Mika is a girl's name."

"Obviously, it is not so here." Severus shook his head in desperation. This country was insane, their language was even more insane, and Sirius loved both with all his heart. Their current host, Kalle Haanpaa, had been horrified when he'd heard that they were going to stay in the Ministry's quarters during Christmas. Despite all their protests, he'd invited them over to his own home. He'd also told the Blacks about the Christmas traditions in Finland. Seemingly they gave out the presents in the Christmas Eve, when the main celebration was. The only other thing Severus could make out of the man's lengthy explanations was that Finns usually went to the sauna on the Eve, and that Santa Claus himself would visit them personally. Well, at least that would make up for the Santa Park fiasco, like Sirius had pointed out.

Ever the one to see an occasion to make up for his mistake.

After some time they returned to the kitchen, where Elisa was already waiting for them. Kalle was also there. As soon as the British wizards stepped into the kitchen, thanking their hosts for yet another time for taking them in -- of course, they just brushed the thanks off -- three curious heads peered from the doorway. Elisa noticed them instantly.

"Ah, there you are, children," she said cheerfully, gesturing them to step into the kitchen. "Children, these are Severus and Sirius Black, they'll stay with us over the holidays. Severus, Sirius, these are my kids. You've already met Mika, and the girls are Elina and Mikaelina."

"Mika, Elina, and Mikaelina, eh?" echoed Sirius in obvious amusement. "Is that really possible?"

Elisa chuckled. "Blame my husband for that," she replied. "Yes, it is indeed possible. Mikaelina is a variety of a more common name, Mikaela."

"Still, it's strange." There was a glint in Sirius's eyes Severus rather would have not seen, however.

*

Later that night they were sitting on couches in the living room. The children were playing in one of the corners of the room. The other adults hardly even paid them another glance -- except for whenever they heard a suspicious sound, when everybody turned to look at them just to find three perfectly innocent faces staring back -- but Sirius was watching them closely.

Something odd flashed in Sirius's eyes as he watched the children. Severus couldn't quite tell what the feeling was, but it was surprisingly disturbing.

"You're working in the Male Pregnancy Section, right?" asked Elisa just then, attracting his attention back to the conversation. "Why don't you two get a couple of children yourself?"

Suddenly, Severus felt some odd feeling settling down to the pit of his stomach. For some reason he couldn't understand, he felt horrified at the mere thought. "I - I'd rather not," he said with a tight, forced voice.

Their hosts gave him a couple of weird glances. Sirius, however, said quickly something in Finnish that Severus didn't understand at all. This made both Kalle and Elisa look really serious, but the glances they were giving him didn't become any more understandable.

Well, it wasn't his problem. He could force the explanation out of Sirius later.

If he only could stop the cold shivers running down his spine first.

***

Sometimes Sirius could be really childish, though. Not even mentioning their visit to the Santapark -- that had been a pure nightmare! -- he could name several occasions from the top of his head when Sirius had acted extremely childishly. Sure, he was great with children, but sometimes Severus thought it to be just because he was equal with them by nature.

***

24th of December, 2003

*

[Mom, mom!] shouted Elina as she stormed into the kitchen. [Mom, it's Christmas Eve at last! Can we open the last hatches?]

[Of course, Dear,] replied the friendly Finnish witch, smiling warmly at her. [Why on Earth couldn't you?]

The girl squealed in joy and went to the nearby wall. There were three odd things on the wall that Severus had noticed earlier. They were rather like small paintings with a Christmas picture on each. The pictures, however, were full of little hatches. Almost of them were open, revealing little holes behind them. Now Elina went to the last one on what Severus supposed to be her picture, tearing it open with enthusiasm. The Potions Master raised his eyebrows as the girl revealed a piece of chocolate in the hole beneath, stuffing it into her mouth.

"What are those?" asked Sirius, eyeing the pictures even more curiously than Severus. "What are they for?"

"Oh, it's just a little Muggle habit our children adore," laughed Elisa. "They're called chocolate calendars. There's a piece of chocolate for the first twenty-four days of December. They may open one hatch each day and eat the chocolate, and when they open the last, it's Christmas."

Of course, this made Sirius's eyes light up. "What do you think, Severus," he said mischievously, "could it be possible to find one of those with 364 hatches on it?"

"Why on Earth would you want one?" asked Severus back, raising his eyebrows again. "Oh, don't tell me. You want to start waiting for the next Christmas on the Boxing Day."

"And do you have a problem with that?" asked Sirius, grinning. "I happen to like Christmas!"

"Well, I've certainly noticed that," mumbled Severus, rolling his eyes. "Or was it just my imagination that you bought the first Christmas presents in September?"

"Hey!" exclaimed the Animagus in protest. "You should be happy that I wanted to be ready ahead of time!"

"And that forced you to buy all those presents -- to yourself?" Severus asked calmly.

Now Elisa and Kalle laughed, Severus smirked, and Sirius flushed a bit. Elina, who hadn't understood what they had been talking about, just watched the adults curiously.

"There was no reason for that," grumbled Sirius annoyedly.

"Oh, yes, there was," Severus said levelly. "I'll inform you as soon as I can think of a reason for it, but believe me, there was one." This, of course, didn't help his husband's mood.

*

It was almost midday now, and the children planned to go outside after the lunch. So, now they were standing there in their coats and magically warmed trousers, each searching a wool sock or a mitten or a scarf, or something else they'd lost.

"Where are you going?" asked Sirius, curious as he always was. He, Severus, and Elisa currently stood next to the children, talking about their own things -- well, except for Sirius, that was.

"We're going to go down the hill," Mika said, explaining their intentions for his little sisters as well. "It's really fun!"

"You mean you're just going to walk up and down the hill?" asked the Animagus, confused. "How's that fun?"

"Not walking," the boy said, frowning a bit. "We're going to take the -- the --" At this, he turned towards his mother for help.

"The sleys, Mika," supplied Elisa calmly. The boy's face lit up instantly.

"Yeah, that's right! We're taking the sleys and sliding down the hill with them!" A bright grin shone from his face. "It is fun, really. Do you want to come with us?"

And to Elisa's great amusement and Severus's shock, Sirius grinned. "Sure I do," he replied. "Why not?"

So, a moment later the three other adults watched from the kitchen window as Sirius was outside, playing with the children. They all slid down the hill on their sleys, then Sirius pulled the sleys up, Mikaela sitting on one of them and the elder children walking on his side. They were all laughing and chattering cheerfully, Jack Frost painting their cheeks red. Their clothes were snowy and their mouths seemed to be permanently set to a broad grin.

At last, however, the three children -- four, if you asked Severus -- came in. They were all soaking wet and tired and cold, but very cheerful.

"Woah, that was really fun," Sirius said, laughing a bit breathlessly. "Absolutely splendid, really. I loved it!"

"And now you'll catch cold," noted Severus calmly. "And then I won't kiss you before you're all healthy and good again. Why did you have to go, anyway?" he asked then dryly as he brushed snow away from the taller man's jet-black hair.

"Because it sounded fun," Sirius said with a broad grin. "And because -- well, because I wanted to know what it would be like."

"Unbelievable," was all that Severus muttered as he then started to help his husband out of all his cloaks and coats and robes.

***

That memory made him think of another characteristic of his husband. If anything, Sirius was curious. Everything new and strange fascinated him in a way that an extremely challenging potion could have interested Severus himself. Whatever he didn't know, he asked. Whatever he didn't understand, he learnt. Sometimes, it was just irritating. Sometimes, however, this thirst for knowledge had helped a great deal -- like with the incident with his potion bag and Soul Potion.

***

25th of March, 1978

*

"What's that?" asked Sirius curiously, pointing at something at Severus's hips. His gesture most certainly did not show what he exactly meant, and the Slytherin got confused for a moment.

Then, however, he realized what the Gryffindor meant. "Oh, so you mean my potion bag," he said. "It's just a special thing that only the members of the Potions Master's Guild can have -- well, almost members, too. Once you've passed the seventh test, you are allowed one. Usually it goes down in the family, but if there are no bags in the family already, you'll have to get a new one -- although sometimes the older Potions Masters give their own bags to their apprentices and get themselves a new one. Every Potions Master using a bag adds his own initials to it." Now he pointed at his own initials in one corner of the bag, embroired with a shiny silver thread. "The more Masters have used a bag, the more valuable it is considered."

"And what's the point of it?" asked the Animagus then. "I mean, it's not really big. I'm sure that only a couple of phials can fit into it."

Severus huffed. "For your information, they are all enchanted," he said. "They can fit in any amount of phials. When you open it, you need to concentrate, and you'll get the potion you need. However," he then added, "it's not quite that easy. Only the owner of the bag can get anything out of it."

"Cool." Sirius crouched down to take a closer look at it. "Is yours inherited from someone?" he asked. "There are quite a lot of initials on it."

Severus nodded. "This was my grandmother's before me," he said. "I think there's one in my father's family also, although there hasn't been a member of the Guild in the Snape line for a long time. The next one after me, however, will get that bag."

"Interesting." Raising his sapphire eyes to Severus, Sirius grinned and continued, "Although it's not as interesting as you are."

"Oh, shut up." But Severus was smiling.

***

2nd of February, 1998

*

Severus dodged a curse directed at him and swore. His hands reached for the bag on his hips. Without much difficulty he drew out just the one phial he needed. Throwing it at the Death Eater's feet, he watched with twisted satisfaction as a cloud of smoke swallowed the man, who soon began to scream.

This potion was one of his own creations. He wasn't proud of it -- how could he? It was purely for torture -- but it was useful. Called the Nightmare Draught, it had a rather interesting effect on people. Whoever inhaled the smoke, soon lived through his worst nightmares. It couldn't kill or physically harm anyone, but it sure as hell was an effective form of torture. At least it would keep the Death Eater otherwise occupied while he tried to find his husband.

"Sirius!" he yelled through the noise. "Sirius!" However, there was no reply.

Cursing inwardly, Severus started to find his way through the battlefield, an Invisiblity Potion helping his way. Wherever their side seemed to be losing, he threw in a couple of potions to help, but otherwise, he kept well away from the fighting. Only Sirius was important now.

At last he found his husband, covering in the corner of the open field they were fighting at. Sirius was also hidden by the Invisibility Potion. However, as they were both affected by it, they could still see each other.

Tsking slightly, Severus shook his head. "Why so miserable a face, my dear husband?" he asked dryly.

"I lost my wand," sighed Sirius. "Now I can only wait until somebody who can cast a simple Accio can help me get it back." With a quick glance at Severus, he asked, "You haven't a wand, have you?" His tone was almost accusing.

"No, I don't," replied Severus calmly. "I've no need for one, anyway. I'm sorry, but I cannot help -- Accio is such a tricky thing to turn into a potion, as it should be modified especially for each thing you want to summon."

"Shit," muttered Sirius. Then he sighed. "I guess I'll just have to --" Then, he froze. "Fuck," he cursed. "Dementors! Quick, get a Patronus Potion!"

Severus, however, did not hear him. He was currently in the middle of a memory of one of the worse beatings he'd got from his bastard father. The man, looking exactly like Severus himself did nowadays, stormed towards him with his hand raised --

And then, a huge wave of coldness flew through him, and he knew no more.

*

Then everything was warm again. Severus opened slowly his eyes only to look right in to the concerned eyes of his husband. "What -- what happened?"

"You fainted, love," Sirius replied. "The battle put your guards down enough for the Dementors to strike."

"Then -- then what took them down?" asked the Slytherin, confused. What exactly had happened?

"Your Patronus took them down," replied the Animagus. "In fact, it's just in the job of doing it." He pointed over his shoulder. Severus saw a large, silvery panther chasing two shadowly figures.

"But -- how?" asked Severus, confused. "Only I can get potions from my bag!"

"That's true," admitted Sirius. "But it's also true that the Soul Potion has a little part of you inside it. Seemingly that little piece was enough for the bag to grant me permission."

"Oh... oh, Merlin." Shaking his head slowly, Severus then staggered to his feet. Reaching for his bag, he drew out a potion that helped him to get over the aftereffects of a Dementor attack. "Very well," he said then. "Let's go to find somebody who can Accio your wand, and then, let's see how we can help the others fight."

***

Ah, yes, the potions bags. The one passed down in the Snape family was now reserved to Malcolm -- if he only passed his tests first. Olivia would get one from the family, too; her great-aunt had left a bag after herself, as Lucius used his mother's bag. 'If Olivia still belongs to that family when she finally passes her seventh test,' thought Severus then gloomily. 'Or even the first one.' He had to dismiss the thought soon, however, as it was too depressing and he wasn't exactly cheerful as it was. After a moment, his thoughts went back to Sirius.

Sirius had the worst temper Severus had ever seen -- his own included. Really, it was unbelievable what little things the Animagus could use as a base for a quarrel. However, as Sirius was a Gryffindor, he was also the more forgiving one of them, always ready to take the first step towards peace by apologizing. He kind of had to, anyway -- Severus himself certainly wasn't one to apologize easily. And the temper could also be useful at times -- at least when it wasn't directed at Severus himself.

***

1st of December, 2000

*

Remus, Severus, and Sirius were rushing through the Diagon Alley. Lucius had taken the children to see Lilian, and the other three men were currently looking for a birthday present for Joyce -- her birthday would be in just a few days.

Somebody rushed around the corner, colliding with Severus. The Slytherin took a step backwards, started by the sudden contact. Putting on his best scowl, he glared at the man.

Instead of an apology, however, he got a wholly different reaction. "Fucking hooknosed Death Eater git," the man muttered under his breath. However, he did not say it quietly enough, as the next second found him pinned against the wall of a nearby store.

"Say that again," Sirius said with a cold, threatening voice. "Say one bad word about my husband again, and you'll be dead."

"Calm down, Sirius," Remus said, placing a calming hand on his arm. "Don't get so worked up."

"I will when Severus is insulted," replied the Animagus. Turning towards the man, he said coldly, "Well? Apologize. You had absolutely no right to say that."

"Let him be, Sirius," Severus said now, although he didn't really mind all this that Sirius was doing for him. "As much as I appreciate your effort, I'd rather not have you put into Azkaban again."

This made Sirius calm down enough for him to let the man go. He did still glare at the offender, however. "Apologize," he spat again.

"Let the bastard be," commanded Severus. "He's not worth your efforts." And with that, he and Remus dragged the Animagus away.

"Why did you do that?" asked Sirius angrily. "He insulted you! Why didn't you let me get back at him?"

"Because nothing he said was exactly untrue," replied Severus casually. "Well, except for maybe the fucking part, I really do prefer being on bottom -- oh, don't blush, Remus, I know that even you talk dirty sometimes," he added then, rolling his eyes towards the sky. "But anyway, I've been called names before. I was a teacher, remember? There's hardly anything he could say that I hadn't already heard from one of my students." Then he added with a smirk, "Although it was a nice gesture."

"Well, isn't that so bloody typical," Sirius said with a grin. "Only a Slytherin would be touched by a gesture that involves beating the shit out of someone."

"Well, I wouldn't say that," Remus said thoughtfully. "I was really moved when Lucius showed the right side of the things to a guy who, knowing very well what I am, commented loudly that all werewolves should be executed."

"Ha! I knew it," Sirius said. "So you do have a little Slytherin inside you, after all."

"Not always, but occasionally yes," the werewolf replied slyly. "And I wouldn't exactly say little."

"What did I say?" Severus raised an eyebrow, speaking over Sirius's roar of laughter. "Talking dirty again."

***

"Mister Black?" somebody called. As he raised his eyes, he saw a mediwitch standing in front of him. "I'm sorry, Mister Black," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes. "We cannot tell for sure whether your husband will survive."

'NO!' thought Severus. 'This can't be all happening again... Not again... For the love of Salazar, I can't take this again. Not on top of the memories of Brian, and the trial going so awry.'

But in his heart he knew that it was indeed happening again. Only he did not know whether it would end even as well as it had the last time.