Three\'s A Crowd

Part - 11


Severus Snape wanted to escape. To run from Hogwarts and disappear. He wanted to run even knowing that if he were to leave the grounds it would mean almost certain death at the hands of Voldemort. The Dark Lord would not be pleased if his number one spy deserted his post for any reason.

But that was preferable to being confronted by Black again. The bastard had forced him to lay bare his soul. Forced him to admit that his father was right, even if it was that same man\'s own doing.

Severus Snape was nothing but a whore.

At one point in the night he had actually found himself standing before one of the cabinets where he kept potion supplies. The cabinet in which he kept the most deadly poisons. He saw one of the vials of basilisk venom that he had harvested from the creature in the Chamber of Secrets.

His hand lifted one of the vials of poison and removed the stopper before he even had time to think about it. But just as the vial touched his lips, he felt something stir inside him, a little flutter in his stomach.

But surely this feeling could not have anything to do with the babies. At this point, they were small and unformed. There was no way that he would be able to feel any movement from them.

And yet, he felt as if they were somehow reaching out to him. He could almost hear tiny voices pleading that it was not their fault who had sired them, or how.

Hand on his stomach, the Slytherin closed his eyes and shuddered. He could not do this. Could not harm innocent lives.

And these innocent lives were his own flesh and blood. He knew in his heart that they deserved a chance to live. Sighing, he lowered the venom from his lips, recapped it and placed it back on the shelf.

What did it matter anyway, the pain and humiliation that he was made to suffer?

It was not as if he had been raped and the new lives inside him were some Death Eater\'s spawn. It had been nothing but a stupid accident.

In his tired, yet infinitely practical mind, it was now settled. Severus would not take his own life.

He would endure the pain, and then he would die giving birth. That would be best in the end for everyone. He would be free from all pain and obligations. Free of Lupin, Black, and Potter. Free of his father. And most important, perhaps with his passing he could save the children from being labeled as his offspring.

Albus would see to it that they were cared for. He would make sure that they had loving parents. Hopefully far from the influence of the, other \'fathers.\'

He would never admit it to anyone, but he hoped that Dumbledore could find a couple like the Weasley\'s to raise his children. True, they were poor as church mice, just as his own family had been. But unlike his own family, no one could ever doubt that Arthur and Molly loved their children.

He sighed. That was that then. As always, he pulled in his anger and shame, slammed tight the walls he used to keep himself safe from emotional entanglements.

He would live.

In this case, his life in general terms would start with simply surviving the night with his sanity in tact. In a broader sense, it was to get up in the morning, go to Albus\' office and sign the marriage contract with Lupin.

A shudder ran through him as he had a thought. It would have been better if it were someone else.

Anyone else.

Remus Lupin was attracted to him. The gods only knew why, but as aloof and uncaring as he pretended to be, Severus was not blind. He saw the lingering glances, the flush that colored the werewolf\'s cheeks when he was caught staring.

Actually, he had noticed the same behavior in both Potter and Black now, but Lupin had acted this way before his father had cursed him.

Yes, he had seen it and deliberately chose to ignore it.

There had been a time that he was attracted to Remus Lupin. Even fantasized about having a relationship with the gentle, if sickly young man while being forced to lay with strangers to enrich his father.

Unfortunately, the incident at the Shrieking Shack had destroyed any chance for that dream to ever come true.

He caught his breath as he had a horrible thought. Had Black told Lupin what he had learned?

Obviously, the mutt\'s original intent had been to order him to reveal something embarrassing for Black to use. Some dirty secret that he could spread all over the school to humiliate him. But even the mutt had looked shocked when Severus had told him about what his father had forced him to do. After that, the idiot had started babbling, saying that he was sorry. Even as angry as Snape had been, giving the Gryffindor a rather impressive shiner, he had heard Black attempting to form words that sounded like an apology.

Had the bastard already spread his shame all over the school, or did Sirius Black have some pity?

Or would Sirius Black keep that secret, and use it against him?

\'No.\' Severus answered his own question. That made no sense. Thanks to the curse, Black could tell him to do anything. He did not need to resort to blackmail to force his compliance for anything. A shiver ran through his thin frame as his mind supplied Sirius Black\'s deep voice, ordering him to strip and spread his legs...

Damn it!

Damn Sebastian Snape! Damn Sirius Black!

And he had to damn himself for his weakness!

Black eyes found the small clock on his bedside table. It was almost seven. Dumbledore would come for him soon if he did not show up for breakfast. He was not hungry, but for the sake of the children, he should eat while he could. Soon he would probably end up with morning sickness. It was supposed to be very common among pregnant men.

Pomfrey had handed him several books on pregnancy, even one on pregnant wizards. The subjects were all hermaphrodite wizards who desperately wanted to have children, but still it gave him some idea of the effects of carrying a child in a male body. They were not good under any circumstances.

His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. Yes, Albus was right on time. Stiffly, Severus opened the door, expecting to see the much too cheerful face of the Headmaster.

\"Hello, Severus,\" said Remus Lupin.

\"Lupin,\" he said stiffly, not trying to hide his anger, but doing an exceptional job of hiding his desire. \"What do you want?\"

\"Albus asked me to check up on you,\" answered the gentle voice. \"He is worried about you.\" After what Sirius had inadvertently found out, both Remus and Albus were extremely worried. How would Severus cope with knowing that the horrible secret he had kept for twenty years was exposed?

They both knew that the Slytherin was a very private person. For something like this to happen was a blow to the foundation of the man\'s existence.

\"There is no need to worry, Lupin, I told the Headmaster that I would be in his office at eight to sign the papers. I will be there.\"

\"Severus, this has nothing to do with the paperwork. We can sign that any time as long as there are two witnesses. Albus and I are worried that you are not eating enough.\" They were terribly worried about much more, but that was a good excuse. \"Please come to breakfast.\"

Remus groaned as Severus complied, walking out the door like and automaton. \"Stop.\" He stopped. \"Severus, I am sorry. I did not mean to give you an order.\"

\"You cannot help it,\" Snape snarled. \"That is what will always happen. You, Potter, and Black enjoy the power this gives you over me!\"

\"That is not true, Severus. Sirius feels horrible about what he did to you.\"

Severus Snape\'s face fell into a grimace. \"He told you.\" The voice was so low that it was barely above a whisper. \"He had no right!\"

\"He had no choice,\" Remus countered. \"Sirius could not let you suffer alone any longer.\"

\"Did he tell the whole bloody school?\"

\"No, Severus. Sirius told me, and I told Albus.\"

\"NO!\" Snape drew away and tried to slam the door in his face. Lupin managed to slip through. \"Bastard! He had no right!\" Snape was backing away. \"He had no right!\"

\"Severus, please, stay calm.\" Remus watched the other man close his eyes as he visibly relaxed. He pushed back the guilt at having used the curse, but it was necessary. \"No one wants to hurt you. No one wants to humiliate you. We care about you.\" His hand touched the pale cheek.

Eyes closed Severus leaned into the touch with a sigh. \"Let me help you.\" Remus drew the unresisting Slytherin into his embrace. The stiff body relaxed immediately. \'This is what you need.\' The werewolf thought as he stroked his hair, touched him gently. He did not dare speak for fear that Severus would panic and run.

They both needed the closeness, thanks to the curse. The powerful ties that now bound them together demanded contact. Intimate contact. He hoped Severus would see that not allowing himself to be touched was making him ill.

Things were going well until Severus felt something hard against his hip. His eyes snapped open to find that he was huddled against Remus Lupin and being petted like a contented cat.

And the man\'s erection poked against him. He almost reached out to stroke it, but his mind rebelled at the realization that he was seeking sexual contact with Remus Lupin. \"Release me!\" He shoved the Gryffindor away angrily.

Remus was caught off guard and fell on his arse. \"Never touch me! Never!\" he shrieked and ran to the door. Before the werewolf could get up, Severus had fled the room.

Remus sighed and caught sight of the bulge in his trousers. \"Could you not wait a few minutes?\" he said bitterly to his deflating erection.


tbc