Chapter Text
“Must you leave, Uncle Sev?” Draco pouted from his mothers side, who only rubbed her son's shoulder. Lucius smiled at his son from Narcissa’s other side.
“Unfortunately so, Draco,” Sirius said apologetically. Draco pouted fiercely and poked a tongue at Sirius. Nymphadora stood awkwardly to the side, not interacting with her aunt or cousin.
They were vaguely close, though Narcissa and Andromeda were not. Narcissa always believed that Andromeda had abandoned her sisters for a man. She still loved her older sister, especially since Andromeda was the only one she had left. Bellatrix died on the night after her master after all, to a furious Frank Longbottom no less. She loved her niece too, but Nymphadora was living proof that Andromeda chose herself.
“Nymphadora, dear,” Narcissa spoke quietly as she made her way to her niece.
“Yes, aunty?”
“Severus has a habit of foregoing food from time to time, so make sure to interrupt when need be. I would ask Regulus or Sirius but I'm sure Severus would hex them silly if they tried.” She said to her niece. Severus became affronted at her words, and though not physically possible, she imagined his hackles being raised.
“I’m not a bloody cat, woman. I can take care of myself for goodness sake.” He hissed to everyone's chagrin,
“Or so he says, dear. But do just be mindful." Sirius snickered and Severus flushed despite himself. Draco on the other hand chortled loudly and gleefully.
“That’s enough, we best be off now.” Severus said, making rounds and hugging each Malfoy one by one. Draco is the last person he hugs, who grips him tightly with his pout resurfacing.
“Don’t forget to floo call me from time to time Uncle. I already don’t see Uncle Regulus enough.” Tears well in his young eyes and Severus is reminded of how young the child truly is.
“It’s not forever, kiddo,” Severus said, pulling back to ruffle the kids’ hair. Draco squawked like a bird with comically exaggerated reactions as he tried to smooth down his hair. Severus smiled at the boy as he stood.
With a final wave good bye, he stepped into the floo.
When Severus and the Aurors arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place, Regulus was waiting for them. Severus glared at him fiercely. Bag in hands, he tries to stomp past but Regulus grabs his arm, stopping him.
“Severus, I’ll show you to your room. Leave the bags, Kreacher will deal with them.” Regulus smiled warmly despite the acidic glower.
“We’ll all be in the family wing, My room, your room, Sirius room and then Nyms room. I would’ve put you between the two Aurors but Sirius and I have designated rooms so, this seemed like the better option. I hope you don’t mind?” Though it was a question, Severus felt as if he was being told, not asked.
“Yeah ok,” Severus sighed, Sirius and Nymphadora walked past and headed into their respective rooms.
“Don’t feel too bad, Sev. I know this directly goes against what you wanted, but it’s better than putting Draco or Cissy at direct risk, you know?” Considering the words and weighing them in his conscience, Severus was obligated to agree.
“Yeah, I guess. It just would have been nice if I was asked. It feels like some asshole is moving me about just for the heck of it.” Regulus smiled knowingly,
“I’m not trying to do that Sev, I’m not your grandparents. And I‘m sorry about all this too. But nevermind that, This Pettigrew nonsense aye? Do you think he was the stalker, from back in school?” Regulus' tone shifted to curiosity at the change in subject. Severus thought about it for a while as he began unpacking his clothes into their respective new homes.
“I don’t know, I mean if you had asked me back in school I would have said hell no. Now, I guess it makes sense doesn’t it? Joining You-Know-Who, thinking I’m gonna be there, where would he even get an idea like that?” Regulus shook his head,
“Who knows? If Pettigrew *is* the stalker, it brings a layer of understanding to all the awful things you had to suffer back in school and–”
“What?” Sirius stepped through the door as he interrupted his brother,
“What do you mean, back in school?” Fury tinted Sirius' handsome face, Severus turned away from them and fiddled with his socks, rolling and unrolling them.
“Sirius, we were having a private conversation. It’s rude to interrupt, you know.” Regulus scolded his older brother who ignored the younger man completely. Stepping around him, he came to Severus' side directly.
“Snape, I need an answer. My trainee and I need to know these types of things if we have to keep you safe.” Severus could understand the logic, but shame creeped up his spine as he remembered all the terrible things he’d suffered in school.
“I… I don’t know, it was all so long ago for me,” Severus scrubbed a hand down his face as he looked up at the man glaring down at him.
“Start literally anywhere. When it began, how you or any authority dealt with it.” Sirius barked.
“Ok, aah. The beginning of Fourth year, on the train to school. It felt like someone was watching me. I thought you and your shithead friends were plotting against me. Again.” Severus' words were like knives to Sirius' ears.
“It didn’t always make sense, you guys were in detention at *some* of the times it happened though, that’s why I thought it probably wasn’t you or your friends. It wasn’t until I woke to find bald patches on my head,” When Severus looked back up at Sirius, he was visibly horrified.
“I thought that would be the end of it. It got worse, so much worse. Notes in my belongings, my underwear going missing. I could never keep a relationship, they were always targeted. Anytime I had a boyfriend.” Severus' tongue felt like lead, in the background, he could hear Regulus order chamomile tea.
“You know, when Evan Rosier fell from his broom that year, we were meant to be on a date that day. Actually, The Three Broomsticks. You assholes bothered me that day and I thought Evan stood me up. When I ran back to school, a note fell from the sky right in front of me.” Regulus handed Severus tea, and sat at his side rubbing small circles into his back.
“Mmm, I remember that. Barty and I were the ones who came to get you.” Sirius shook his head disbelievingly,
“I don’t remember that,”
“Why would you? It was just another day to *you*.” Severus' accusing eyes pinned the taller man in place as he flushed in shame at his own actions. He simply nodded.
“What else?”
“I… It was one year, and by the next school year, I had transferred away. It was so long ago.”
“Not good enough, Snape. A lot can happen in a year.”
“It’s. Not. Your. Fucking. Business," Severus replied through gritted teeth.
“I get that you have a job to do, *Black*, but rehashing shit that happened years ago isn’t gonna help me now. Going over all the crappy things Pettigrew may or may not have done won’t find him any quicker!” Severus hissed, eyes flashing viciously. Sirius took a step back to scrutinise Severus and Regulus both.
“Fine, I just thought maybe if we got a better idea of what he was capable of, we could peek into his thought process. Find out where he could be and put him *back* behind bars.” Sirius said with exhaustion in his voice.
“We’re clearly not gonna make it to dinner or lunch at the Ritz today. So I’ll sort it out tomorrow or later.” Sirius stood and left the room, Severus watched him go.