A Tale of Two Men

TITLE: A Tale of Two Men

Author: Lady Sirius

Pairing: SB/SS

RATING: NC17

FEEDBACK: darklove_zorg@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER: Of course all rights belong to JK Rowling - I would claim Sirius if I could (but alas this is not meant to be!)

OOTP SPOILERS: Yes there are a few references, so don’t read if you don’t want to know.

DEDICATION: To my glorious, talented and wondrous inspiration - Gary Oldman



Chapter Sixteen

To Have and To Hold

“I love you more than ever, more than time and more than love,
I love you more than money and more than the stars above,
Love you more than madness, more than waves upon the sea,
Love you more than life itself, you mean that much to me.

You turn the tide on me each day and teach my eyes to see,
Just bein’ next to you is a natural thing for me
And I could never let you go, no matter what goes on,
‘Cause I love you more than ever now that the past is gone.”
“Wedding Song” by Bob Dylan

An unusually nervous Hermione Granger woke Harry and Ron quite early on the morning of her wedding to Draco Malfoy, insistent that she had to speak with them, oblivious to the dirty looks she received from the boys’ roommates upon her intrusion into their mutual bedchamber. It was only with a great deal of coaxing that Hermione was persuaded to wait for them in the common room until they had had a chance to dress, which they did forthwith, and found her pacing animatedly back and forth before the fireplace.

“Hermione, calm down,” Harry attempted to reassure her, “everything is going to work out just fine.”

“What happened, ‘mione, did you just wake up and realize who you’re getting ready to marry?” Ron quipped, and Hermione darted him a dirty look. “Too late to change that, I’m afraid. Unless, of course, you’ve come to your senses and want us to off him for you?” His freckled face split wide with a huge grin as he taunted her.

“Knock it off, Ron!” Harry chided, taking Hermione’s hands in his and forcing her to take a seat. “Tell us what’s troubling you, ‘mione.”

Hermione took a deep breath, looking back and forth between her two friends, began to speak. “You both know how very important this day is to me, don’t you? I want everything to go just right for me and Draco.”

“Of course, we know that,” Harry nodded, and Ron echoed his actions.

“Well, I am afraid that there will be trouble at the wedding, and I can’t stand the idea - it’s driving me crazy!”

“What kind of trouble?” Harry wrinkled his brow in concern.

“Well, from what I’ve been hearing about the events of Draco’s bachelor party, I’m afraid that your godfather and Professor Snape might be at one another’s throats! And it’s not like they can avoid one another, you know - Sirius is walking me down the aisle, and Severus is Draco’s best man! I don’t know what to do, Harry!” And she began to moan in a distracted sort of way.

Harry and Ron looked at one another. They had been there for the events that Hermione referred to, but even they weren’t sure exactly what had transpired between Sirius and Snape, much less the aftermath, not having seen either man since.

“I don’t think either Sirius or Snape would do anything to ruin your wedding, Hermione,” Harry began slowly, but Hermione was not to be so easily put off.

“Maybe not deliberately, but things happen!” She wrung her hands and jumped up, pacing once again.

“Tell me what we can do, and we’ll do it.”

Hermione stopped, faced the two boys. “You mean it?” she asked hopefully. “You’ll help me?”

“What do you want us to do?” Harry repeated.

“Talk to Sirius - make him promise to be on his best behaviour. I know what he can be like, especially when he starts drinking, and after he went wild at the bachelor party, well, I can’t take any chances.... You know what I mean?”

Harry started to protest that it wasn’t Sirius’ fault at all, but Ron cut him off quickly, attempting to forestall any further argument. “No problem, Hermione, we’ll do just that. Come on, Harry, let’s go, so Hermione can get ready for the wedding. We can go talk to Sirius, and then we need to get ready ourselves.” He tugged at Harry’s arm, but before they could leave, Hermione grabbed each of them and hugged them warmly.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she intoned, until they pulled away from her and made their immediate escape.


As they headed toward Sirius’ rooms, Ron speculated, “What makes you think he isn’t hiding out at Grimmauld Place?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I hope not. Anyway, this is the most sensible place to look first, since we’re already here.”

Ron agreed to the logic of this argument, and they stood outside Harry’s godfather’s door, hesitating, before Harry reached up and rapped on the door firmly.

“Come in!” a voice from inside called out, and they entered the room to find Sirius sitting on his bed, a pad of paper before him, apparently writing.

“You’re here!” Harry commented needlessly.

“Yes I am. Why are you surprised at that?” He looked up at the two boys, his dark eyes reflective.

“Well, you’ve been spending so much time at Grimmauld Place lately, I just thought....” Harry left the sentence dangling awkwardly.

“Come in, come in,” Sirius invited them, and they closed the door behind them, finding spots to sit on Sirius’ comfortable bed.

“Why aren’t you getting ready for Hermione’s wedding?” He looked at them inquiringly.

“We will be, soon,” Harry promised, “but I just wanted to see you first, talk to you...”

“Harry...” Sirius began, placing one hand tentatively on Harry’s, “I know that I’ve not been here much for you lately, but I promise that that will change... I’ve just been working through some things. I can’t really explain but I think, at least I hope, everything will work out all right...”

“Sirius,” Harry interrupted him, “tell me about my parents. Please.”

Sirius’ words died on his lips as he looked into the expressive green eyes before him, so much like Lily’s that it took him aback for a moment.

“They were so young when they got married and had me, and I never had the chance to know them - please tell me about them, how they were - with each other, with me, everything....” His voice had dropped to a whisper, and Ron patted his lover’s back reassuringly.

Sirius drew back slightly, swallowing hard, collecting his thoughts. He cleared his throat, scratched absentmindedly at one ear, then looked back up at Harry. “Where to begin?” he said. “It wasn’t exactly a match made in heaven, you know, not at the beginning. When James first saw your mother, he was pretty smitten with her, even though he had the pick of all the girls at Hogwarts - but once he saw Lily Evans, it was all over for him, I can tell you!” He smiled to himself at the memory. “He thought she was the most beautiful girl there ever was!”

“And Mom - did she fall in love with him too?”

“Lily? No way! She thought he was a terrible prat, too stuck on himself for his own good, and mean and thoughtless to boot. Thought the whole lot of us were useless twits, she did, especially me. She was witness to some of our less noble pranks, I’m afraid, and more or less told James to sod off and leave her alone.”

“Then how did they end up getting married and having me?”

“Love works in mysterious ways, Harry, very mysterious ways. I’m not sure exactly how it came about, but one day they were at each other’s throats, and the next they were holding hands and billing and cooing like two turtle doves - Remmy and I had a field day, let me tell you, when we saw that! We ragged him mercilessly for days. But James didn’t care - he was in love!” Sirius sighed nostalgically at the memory. “Lily was a very special girl, too, very beautiful and very kind - she had the kindest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. She tamed our James she did, made him respectable husband material.” He smiled at his godson. “Do you know that you are the best of what they were, Harry? They loved you so very, very much! And they were so excited when they knew that they were having you - everyone was. No child was ever wanted more than you were!”

Harry blushed, pleased. “Sirius, they were so very young when they got married - how did they know that it was the right thing to do? How could they know that they were the right ones for each other?” Harry contemplated his godfather solemnly.

“They just knew, that’s all.” Sirius shrugged eloquently. “Just as I am sure that Hermione and Draco know that that is how they feel about one another. It’s something in your heart that tells you, but it can’t be explained, only felt. Do you know what I mean? Like having an internal compass which guides you to propproper person, and you know that that person is the one, whether you have a logical explanation for it or not.”

“Kind of like me and Ron?” Harry said, “because I don’t know what I see in him, but I find myself with him all the time. Like a magnet gone bad, I can’t seem to pull myself away from him.”

“Hey!” Ron protested, and began to pummel Harry with one of Sirius’ pillows.

Harry returned his punches with some of his own, while Sirius shook his head at the two of them. He allowed them a few minutes of horseplay, then insisted that they calm down before they destroyed his bed.

“Harry,” Sirius began, “I’m not all that dense, you know, and I do know what you’ve been leading up to with all this talk of relationships and love and everything....”

“I’m not leading up to anything,” Harry protested, “it’s just that no one ever wants to talk to me about my parents, as if I’m supposed to not think about them or something, and what with Hermione and Draco’s wedding, well, I was just thinking, that’s all....”

“That’s all, Sirius, honestly,” Ron added his two cents, “it’s not like we were trying to interfere between you and Professor Snape or anything...”

“Ron!” Harry bellowed, and Ron managed to look sheepish, as he muttered, “Oops,” softly.

“Like I said, Harry, Ron, I’m not dense, and I do appreciate your concern.”

“You aren’t thinking that there might be any trouble at the wedding, are you?” Harry asked nervously. “Are you two getting along well enough to go through with this?”

“Of course, don’t fret yourself about that. Tell Hermione that nothing untoward shall happen to mar her special day. I promise.”

Harry heaved a great sigh of relief. “She’ll feel better when I tell her that.”

“Good.” Sirius reached forward, took Harry’s hand in his own. “You know how much I love you, don’t you? I only want you to be happy, to do everything in my power to earn the trust that your parents placed in me when they made me your godfather.”

“I know, Sirius,” Harry beamed happily, “and you know that I hope someday that we can be together, as a real family.”

“Me too, Harry, me too.” He leaned back against his headboard, closed his eyes for a moment, then faced his godson. “I haven’t always been the best role model for a growing boy, I have to admit - in fact, there have been times when I’ve been downright dangerous to myself and the people around me. No...” he held up one strong hand as Harry attempted to protest, “I know better. I’m just being honest with myself. In fact, there are some who might say that Sirius Black is nothing better than a spoiled child who has yet to grow up. But there comes a time in everyone’s life, Harry, when they have to face certain truths about themselves and the world they live in, to be their own person and not to worry so much about what the world thinks of them as what the people they care about think of them. And to act accordingly.”

“What do you mean, Sirius?”

“Harry, there’s something I need your help with...”

“Of course, Sirius, anything. What can I do for you?”

Sirius beckoned the two boys close to him, and he began to explain his plan...

Meanwhile, not far from Sirius’ rooms, Draco Malfoy was getting ready to be wed, with the assistance of Professor Severus Snape. Draco kept fidgeting with his tie, tying and untying it, twisting it into various unrecognizable shapes until Snape slapped his hand away and tied the damn thing himself.

“Thanks, Severus,” Draco muttered, “I don’t know what’s with me today, I can’t seem to do anything right.” He slumped dejectedly onto Snape’s bed, and Snape positioned himself beside the young man, a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

“Why so glum, Draco? Today you are to wed the girl of your dreams, the very lovely Hermione Granger. You should be on cloud nine, boy.” His tone was unusually gentle for the normally severe potions master, and Draco was emboldened to spup. up.

“Severus, do you know why my parents got married?”

Snape started at the question. He hadn’t expected that one - perhaps questions about the wedding night to come and marriage in general - but Draco’s parents? Why HAD they gotten married? The truth was that Lucius had confided to his former lover that it was Voldemort’s insistence that he marry Narcissa - but how could he tell Lucius’ son that, and that he and Lucius had once been lovers? No, no, that wouldn’t do. But he didn’t want to lie to him, either.

“There are many reasons why two people choose to get married,” he replied cautiously. “We don’t always understand the reasons, nor can we be expected to. It’s a personal choice, between individuals.”

Draco looked up worriedly at Snape, twisting his hands in his lap as he spoke. “Severus, I’m afraid,” he confided.

“Of what?”

“Of being like my father,” he said quietly. “I have always admired him before, thought that he was a brave man, and I wanted to be just like him. But since everything that has happened, I’ve come to see him in a different light, and he really isn’t what I thought he was at all, is he?”

Snape sighed, wished that he could be of more comfort to Draco, but his words rang too true to be denied.

“I love Hermione,” Draco continued, “and I don’t ever want her to be disappointed in me, or have her look at me like the way my mother used to look at my father before they locked him up in.... in Azkaban. How do I know I won’t be like? H? How do I know that I won’t hurt her by marrying her?” He was growing more and more agitated, rising from his position on the bed to pace back and forth beside it. Stopping suddenly, he turned to his professor and said simply, “And I’m very sorry for the things I said about Sirius Black.”

“What things, what do you mean?” Snape was confused.

“One night when we were in Scotland. I was talking to ‘mione and she told me about the two of you - well, really, she didn’t want to, but I kind of insisted - and then when she told me that you were together, I kindof laughed, and then I called him.... well, I said he was...” Draco hesitated, unwilling to go on.

“Yes, Mr. Malfoy?” Snape looked at him oddly.

“I said that he was your bitch,” Draco finally confessed. “It was one of our last nights there, and I was kind of tense, if you know what I mean, but that isn’t an excuse. I just wanted to let you know that I was sorry and that I don’t really think of him that way. And I hope that the two of you will be just as happy as ‘mione and me.”

“Thank you, Draco,” Snape responded automatically.. He took the young man’s chin in his hand, held it up so that he was forced to make eye contact with him. “Look, there are no guarantees in life, not about love, not about anything. But we do the best that we can. No one is perfect, after all. And if you are lucky enough to find someone that you care for, then don’t throw it away, just work at it harder than anything you’ve ever had to work at in your life. And the rewards will be greater than any other you’ve ever received. Don’t worry about what other people have done before you - they aren’t you and never will be. Just remember that, and know that today is the beginning of something special for you and Hermione. Something that only you two share. And treasure it always.”

Draco’s heart filled at the words. He could always count on Snape to be honest with him, he relied upon it in a world where his own father could never be depended upon. “Thank you, Severus,” he whispered.

Snape patted his arm gently, then drew him close and hugged him. “You know, Draco, that I look on you as the son I never had. You are a good man, just believe that, and believe in yourself. Now, let’s get you ready to get married!” And he handed Draco his cummerbund.

The wedding of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy was being held at Hogwarts, but it was to be rather a private affair, in view of the fact that neither set of parents could attend. Nevertheless, Dumbledore had gone all out in decorating one of the smaller halls for the invited guests, with the assistance and input of Minerva McGonagall.

Everyone who was invited was in place at last. Harry and Ron were resplendent in their black matching jackets. They weren’t overly thrilled at playing usher and escorting Hermione’s bridesmaids down the aisle, but accepted it with as good a grace as they could muster. They watched the nervous Draco as he stood beside Snape, waiting for his bride. His platinum blonde hair was sleeked back and he looked cool and collected in his pearl grey tuxedo. At his side, a study in contrast, stood Professor Snape - who had discarded his usual robes for something more flattering and unusual - a black Nehru jacket over a stiff-collared white shirt, beneath which could be seen a red vest with gold threads running through it. His dark hair, shining and sleek, hung just over the collar of his jacket, and he looked very regal indeed.

Professor Dumbledore was to preside over the ceremony. He stood beside Draco and Snape, attempting to calm the one and make idle conversation with other as they waited for the ceremony to begin. When he received the sign that the bride was in position, Dumbledore waved his wand, and an invisible orchestra began to play Mendelsohn’s Wedding Procession. Harry and Ron each took the arm of one of the bridesmaids, giggly in powder blue, and escorted them down the aisle, doing their best to stay in step with the music. All eyes were upon them, which caused the girls to giggle even more. Once they had passed, everyone looked back expectantly and beheld Hermione for the first time. And their mouths all dropped open at the vision of loveliness which greeted them.

She was dressed in a white satin gown with modest decolletage, decorated with tiny seed pearls and cloudy tulle. Above her beautiful honeyd had hair was set an elaborate tiara, with a veil cascading down her back. Long white silk gloves adorned her arms and matching satin slippers. Her eyes were shining, and she simply exuded radiance. All in all she was most breathtaking as she advanced toward her fiancé, whose confidence grew stronger the nearer she came to him. But Severus was oblivious to the charms of the lovely bride, he only had eyes for the man at her side, the man who was playing the part of her father and giving her away. And Severus stared in awe at his handsome lover.

For Sirius had outdone himself for the occasion. Dressed completely in black, as befit his name, he wore a black watered-silk shirt that shimmered in the light, a tight black embroidered vest with mother-of-pearl buttons which hugged his well-formed chest, and tight black satin pants which showed every line of his muscular legs to advantage. His boots were expensive black leather which glistened pristinely. His beautiful ebony tresses were caught up and tied into a sedate tail which fell down his back. Snape could detect a trace of eyeliner under his soulful black eyes, and in one ear a gold earring gleamed piratically. All in all he was a vision to behold, and Snape caught his breath at the sight. He barely paid attention to the ceremony, but luckily didn’t miss his cue when it came time to hand Draco the ring. He watched Sirius out of the corner of his eye once he had given the bride away and stepped back, and he thought that perhaps Sirius watched him too.


“You may now kiss the bride,” Dumbledore intoned, and the newly-married couple came together for their first wedded kiss, as everyone present cheered. Hermione looked flushed, and Draco grinned widely, as Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy were presented for the first time and received the congratulations of everyone there, who crowded about them. Sirius and Severus found themselves being pushed together by the milling wellwishers, (or was it Harry and Ron?) and nodded at one another, each appraising the other’s looks, and neither one displeased by what he saw.

“You look good,” Snape said, looking deep into the other man’s eyes. “How’s your head?”

“Better, thanks. I think I’ll live.” He gave a little grin to show that he wasn’t upset about it. “Severus...” He moved his mouth close to his lover’s ear to make himself heard over the noise, “I’d like to talk to you... later...if it’s all right...”

Snape nodded once. “After the reception. We can talk then.” He made himself walk away from that very delectable man, lest he lose controlof the situation - and of himself. Sirius stood looking after him, his eyes taking on a far away look, until he heard a chuckle at his elbow and looked back to find Remus beside him.

“What’s so funny, Remmy?” he asked.

“You are, my friend, you are. C’mon, let’s grab the boys and head to the reception.” He took Sirius by the arm and they soon found Harry and Ron, talking to Hermione and Draco.

“Thank you again, Sirius, for taking my dad’s place,” Hermione gushed, “I really appreciate it very very much.”

“My pleasure, Hermione, I’m sure.”

“And you look very very handsome, Sirius, if you don’t mind my saying so.”

“No, dear, I don’t mind, thank you.” Sirius grinned in a pleased manner, and Draco clung even more tightly to his new bride’s arm. Harry and Ron snickered among themselves.

The house elves had the reception area ready and waiting for them. The bridal party sat at a long table at one side of the room, while everyone else was broken up into smaller tables scattered about. Snape found himself sandwiched between Draco and Dumbledore, while Sirius was seated between Harry and Lupin on the bride’s side of the table. Snape couldn’t help from casting surreptitious glances down the table, but he prided himself on his discretion, until Dumbledore offered to change places with Mr. Black, at which Snape politely refused and sat back where he couldn’t see him any more.

On his side, Lupin was urging Sirius to go to Snape, to break ice.ice. “I see the way he looks at you,” the werewolf argued, “and you know you want to. What’s holding you back?”

“Nothing,” Sirius replied, but he made no move to get up. Lupin looked at his friend carefully, hien sen senses detecting something.

“You’re up to something,” he commented, “what is it?”

“Who me?” Sirius asked innocently. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes you do, but I know better than to try to get it out of you before you’re ready. Just be e the that I am keeping my eye on you, Sirius Black!” He growled in a mock-fierce tone.

“Calm down, Remus. You’ll know all when the time comes, I assure you.” And he smiled to himself, a smile so full of warmth and happiness that he positively glowed.

“You know, Sirius, at times like this, I’m sorry we ever broke up, cause you look good enough to shag!” Remus arched his brows seductively. “Woof, woof!”

“Calm down or I’ll be throwing a bucket of cold water on you!” Sirius admonished him, but he knew that Lupin wasn’t serious - they knew each other too well for that.

Just then the house elves produced platters full of delicous food and everyone concentrated on the banquet before them. Harry and Ron outdid themselves in seeing who could eat the most, while trying to ignore the admiring glances of the bridesmaids, who persisted in trying to catch the boys’ eyes. Hagrid put both boys to shame, though, as he made short shrift of the delicious provisions. He sat next to Dumbledore, watching everything, and tapping his foot more or less in time to the music which played. Turning to Snape at one point, he asked, “Say, Professor, have you seen that stray dog about lately?”

Snape started, thinking quickly, but before he got a chance to reply, Dumbledore had asked, “What stray dog, Hagrid?”

“Oh, a big black ‘un, professor, was hanging all on Professor Snape one night when he was out walkin’. Friendly beast, he was. I was just concerned that he might still be wanderin’ around the grounds by hisself, that’s all.”

Dumbledore turned to Snape, his fluffy white brows raised bemusedly. “A large black dog you say, Hagrid? Imagine that.” Snape felt his face grow hot.

“Just a stdog dog I found wandering about,” he muttered, “I’m sure by now it has wandered back to its owners.”

“I trust you were most attentive to the dog while he was in your care,” Dumbledore smiled knowingly, and Snape had to resist the urge to say something he might regret later. He only replied a curt, “Of course,” and let the matter drop, as did Albus. Luckily the headmaster’s attention was soon claimed by Minerva, who traded places with Hagrid, who then wandered off to see what else there was to eat.

The time finally came when everyone had eaten enough to be sated, the tables were pushed back from the center of the room, and the bride and groom took to the floor for thest dst dance. They swayed happily together to the strains of “Just the Way You Look Tonight”, while everyone looked on admiringly. After the first dance, Hermione was passed about, from Sirius to Harry to Ron to Dumbledore, as custom required, and then other couples pushed their way onto the floor and joined them.

Snape still sat where he had been, listening to Dumbledore drone on about something or other - he had long ago lost track of what the older man was talking about. He little realized that Sirius was watching him closely, his heart beating faster at the sight of him. Severus looked so very handsome tonight! Looking at him, Sirius realized just how badly he wanted to walk up to him, unbutton that damn Indian jacket, and plunge his tongue into each and every orifice he could find.

Sirius pulled himself together, gathered his resolve, looked about him carefully. Harry and Ron were eating pieces of wedding cake nearby, laughing at the sight of Hermione and Draco feeding each other with their fingers. He managed to catch Harry’s eye, and he nodded, once. Harry nodded in reply, and getting to his feet, took off with Ron. Lupin was watching Sirius carefully, his wolf senses telling him that the game was afoot - every nerve he possessed tingled with anticipation.

The unseen musicians were now playing “Someone to Watch Over Me”, by prior arrangement of Mr. Black. Sirius took a deep breath, and strode over to where Snape sat. Severus looked up at him, startled by his sudden appearance, and awed once again at the sight of this oh-so-handsome man.

Sirius cleared his throat. “Severus...”

Snape’s breathing became faster, his heart thudding against his chest. “Yes?”

“Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?”

Severus didn’t think he could have heard him correctly. He sat stunned, his eyes glued to Sirius’ intent face, hardly aware that he was expected to make some sort of response. It was only when Albus nudged him none too gently that he came back to what was happening before him. And it was with a great deal of surprise that he heard himself say yes, and rise to meet Black’s outstretched hand.

Snape walked around the table, never releasing Sirius’s hand, and felt himself being pulled into the center of the room. Everything had taken on a very surreal dreamlike quality as they took up the proper positions, hands and legs just fng ing into place as the music flowed about them. Sirius put his arm around Severus’ waist, pulled him in to him and tenderly laid his head upon the other man’s shoulder, as they swayed together. Severus laid his head against Sirius’, closing his eyes to everything but the man in his arms. Gods, it had been so long, and Sirius felt so good - it was if the rest of the world ceased to exist for them as time stood still. And suddenly Severus wasn’t afraid any more - he realized that they were now out, for better or for worse, and he just didn’t care. All he wanted was to hold Sirius like this, to be held by him, and to let everyone know that they were indeed together - take it or leave it.

Sirius could feel Remus’ eyes upon him, knowing, loving, approving. And as he looked up, he was greeted with the sight of Harry and Ron imitating their actions (to the chagrin of the bridesmaids) as they too came together on the dance floor. Then came Albus and Minerva, Draco and Hermione, until the floor was full of swaying bodies. Sirius almost choked with laughter when he saw Remus leading Hagrid out, but the big man chickened out at the last moment, and made his apologies.

Their bodies pressed closely together, Sirius took advantage of the situation to pepper Snape’s ear with butterfly kisses which tingled, and the potions master felt himself rising to the sionsion, moaning deep within his throat. Only years of self-control kept him from grabbing Sirius and hustling him out of the room and to their bed. But he contained himself, and he was content to let time stand still at this moment.

The music ended all too soon, and everyone stood in place, waiting for the next song to begin. Sirius looked at Harry, who knew just what to do - he passed behind his godfather, slipped him two objects, and scurried back to Ron, as they watched tho meo men closely (as did everyone else on the dance floor). From behind his back, Sirius produced a single long-stem red rose, which he presented to Severus.

“This rose symbolizes our love,” he said, “beautiful and wild, and full of danger, but easy to grow if handled with care and given only the proper amount of love.” Snape took the flower, touched. He had never received such a gift before. But what else was Sirius up to?

Suddenly and with no warning, Sirius dropped to one knee, looking up at Snape with his heart apparent upon his handsome face. He brought out the second object which Harry had provided him - a small black box which he held out before him. “Severus Snape,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion, “will you do me the great honour of marrying me?” He flipped open the box, and inside could be seen two identical gold bands - engraved upon them were a serpent and a lion, entwined, and each beast had onyx eyes which gleamed darkly.

Snape was flabbergasted - he was astounded, he was amazed, he was speechless. Never, never, never in a million years had he seen this coming, not with all his consummate legilimen skills had he foreseen this. He had never had anyone in his life who cared for him like this, and he had never felt this way about anyone before, and before he was aware of it himself, he replied, “Yes, I would be proud and honoured to marry, Si, Sirius,” and he helped his lover ts fes feet and there in front of Dumbledore and everybody they came together in their first public kiss, as everyone about them cheered.

Then they looked at each other, realizing what had just happened, and they both knew that they were very happy. “Excuse me a moment, Sevi,” Sirius told him, and he jumped up onto the nearest table and began clapping his hands for attention.

“Excuse me, excuse me, could I have everybody’s attention, please?” (even though he had had it ever since he had first dropped to one knee and proposed to Snape). “I would just lto tto take this opportunity to inform everyone that I am truly, madly, deeply in love with your beloved potions professor, and he has just made me the happiest of men by agreeing to marry me!” This pronouncement was greeted with a thunderous applause and cheering. Sirius was helped down from his perch, and the newly engaged couple was beset from all sides.

Harry was one of the first. He hugged his godfather closely. “I’m so happy, Sirius,” he said, “I really do want you to be happy.” Sirius gestured with his eyes toward Severus, and Harry understood. He approached the potions master, a little apprehensively. “Professor Snape...” he began tentatively.

“I think that you may call me Severus, under the circumstances,” Snape interjected.

“Okay, Severus.... I just want to say... well,... I mean.... that is.... welcome to the family!” and he hugged Severus Snape, which surprised him, but pleased him at the same time, as it did Sirius.

Remus walked up to Sirius, claimed his own hug, and turning to Severus claimed one from him too. “Didn’t I tell you?” he said to Snape.

“Nobody likes a wiseguy, Lupin,” Snape replied drolly.

Just then the ceiling over their heads turned black as the night sky, and colourful explosions rent the air - fireworks thoughtfully provided courtesy of Professor Dumbledore. Sirius and Severus looked at one other - the fireworks were merely an external form for what was going on inside of them. Snape was saying something, but Sirius couldn’t quite catch it.

“What?” he yelled, leaning closer to his lover, until his ear was up against his lips.

“I said, I love you!” Snape shouted, his breath tickling Sirius’s ear. Then Sirius turned his head and they came together in a most glorious kiss as the fireworks continued to erupt overhead.


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a/n: You are all cordially invited to the wedding of Mr. Sirius Black and Mr. Severus Snape. Gifts are not needed, and dress is optional. Bring your own bottle, please. And don’t forget to leave a tip for the house elves! See you in chapter 17 - I hope that you are enjoying this and won’t forget to come for the final chapter in this story!

As always, comments are more than welcome! Tell me what you really think!