Thou Shalt Not!

Title: Thou Shalt Not!

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairings: Future Severus SnapexLucius Malfoy, Abraxus MalfoyxOC, Tom RiddlexCassiopeia Black, Walpurga BlackxOrion Black, Alphard BlackxElaine Bones, Charlus PotterxDoria Black, Septimus WeasleyxCedrella Black

Notes: Post-Battle of Hogwarts fic in part. Non-Epilogue compliant. AR/AU. Evil Dumbledore.

Summery: Severus Snape survives the war, only to realize he has nothing left to live for. While musing what he might have done differently, he is interrupted by the arrival of Dumbledore who is doing some 'housekeeping'. A duel begins and in an attempt to save himself, Severus does the unthinkable and breaks one of the greatest tenets of Magic!

What has he done and where has he gone?

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The Past - Ch 26

January 1, 1972

Aurelius, Alaric, Severus and Lily had just sat down to breakfast when a Black elf, Kreacher actually, appeared.

Aurelius frowned, “Yes?”

Kreacher bowed, “Mistress order Kreacher to remind Lord Prince that there be little party for young masters and missies during Ball. Kreacher need to tell Mistress if we be expecting little ones.”

Aurelius turned to Severus and Lily, “Lucius and Andromeda will be at the ball but I expect that James, Narcissa, Sirius and his brother Regulus will be at the nursery party.”

Severus scowled but before he could reply, Lily spoke up.

“It would be interesting to see the others again. I missed the Solstice Ball because I was at the Abbey and I know Severus didn’t attend either.”

Aurelius had made a token appearance himself with Alaric because it was the proper thing to do. “I didn’t see the point of dragging Severus there if you weren’t going to be there, without James to distract him I was somewhat concerned that Sirius might forget himself and end up bullying Severus again.”

Lily grinned, “We ought to spend as much time with our social equals when we are in Britain since we no longer attend Hogwarts.”

Severus grumbled, “If we must...”

Aurelius understood perfectly that he was irritated about social events, after all they both despised them but they were Princes and sometimes sacrifices must be made for appearance’s sake.

So Aurelius informed Kreacher gruffly, the senile elf from his previous life wasn’t as annoying but he still disliked the elf’s abasing oily ways, to inform Walpurga to expect the three of them.

Kreacher nodded and vanished, leaving them to their meal...

XooooooX

The ball was to begin at nine and so they had dined late but were expected to assemble in the front parlour to floo to Grimmauld at fifteen to nine.

Severus was the last to arrive but they still stepped out of the floo at Number Twelve at ten to nine.

Lady Walpurga, Lady Cassiopeia and Andromeda greeted them politely.

Despite being welcome at the ball, Andromeda escorted Severus, Lily, the youngest Weasley brother, the younger Bones heir and James to the nursery.

Andromeda was likely escorting them to the nursery parlour that was not all that different from the one that Lily and Severus shared with Remus when he was at Merrivale.

Lady Cassiopeia blushed even as she offered her hand to Alaric who bowed over it before bringing it to his lips.

“Lady Cassiopeia.” Alaric drawled.

She swallowed and greeted him with bright eyes, “Lord Alaric welcome.”

Alaric was slow to release her hand.

Despite being essentially arranged, there appeared to be genuine affection between the couple despite their age difference.

Aurelius greeted both Walpurga and Cassiopeia with a bow over their hands before allowing Madam Smith, her Bondmate Lord Belby, Lord Septimus and Lady Cedrella Weasley to greet their hostesses.

 Septimus and Cedrella’s youngest son Cador had already left with Andromeda but they were accompanied by their middle child Bilius but Arcturus [Arthur] was nowhere to be seen nor were the Prewetts present. The two families were to Aurelius knowledge so close that they often arrived together...

Also Madam Bones [Edgar and Emelia’s mother] and her spouse Lord-Consort Alphard Bones-Black [Walpurga’s slightly younger brother both of whom were present with their elder children Edgar and Emelia.

The ballroom in Grimmauld was in a room that Aurelius had never seen in his previous life as Head of Slytherin and Potions Master of Hogwarts. It seemed that there was more to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place than had been enterable by members of the Order and the children.

The ballroom itself was opposite the front parlour/receiving room, inside it was a doorway that led to a second parlour that was enterable at the far end of the Ballroom and whose decor resembled that of The Spiny Serpent. Also there was a spiral staircase that most likely led to the drawing room that was above the Ballroom.

What did that say about Sirius’ relationship with both the Order and the Ancient House of Black?

Lucius was mingling with his dormmates Chadwick Montague, Geoffrey Goyle, Cauis Flint, Rodolphus Lestrange and Tiberius Pucey. Also in their company were Malcolm Bulstrode, Cameron Crabbe, Rabastan Lestrange, Edmund Parkinson and Sancus Malfoy.

All of whom were names and faces that Aurelius remembered from his previous life, many of whom had been Death Eaters with the exceptions of Chad, Tiberius and Sancus.

Aurelius watched Lucius with hooded eyes as he followed Alaric across the ballroom to join Abraxus, Apollus, Myron, Oran and others.

He still detested Lords Rosier and Crouch but thanks to the Lucius from his past life’s guidance, Aurelius knew they had worth despite his wish to curse them...

By about nine-thirty, anyone who was anyone in pureblood circles had arrived and the hired orchestra had begun play louder.

Walpurga was the official hostess so she and Lady Cassiopeia led their dates Lord Orion and Alaric for the first dance.

Other couples soon joined them, Aurelius would have enjoyed escorting Lucius out onto the dance floor but his current betrothal to Andromeda meant that he was expected to dance with her.

While Aurelius would enjoy a dance with Lucius, to expose his feelings in Walpurga’s house was not wise. It would be best to postpone such a revelation until they were in a different time and place.

Perhaps, the wild but mostly chaste dancing of Beltane when no one really paid attention to anyone else...

Everything seemed quite normal as far as pureblood balls went until an unfamiliar wizard, to Aurelius anyway, stormed into the ballroom and stalked their way over to Lord Rosier.

The wizard immediately began gesturing angrily and speaking rudely if their mannerisms was any indication.

Due to the music, it was impossible to hear...

Aurelius excused himself from the conversation with Alaric’s friends and made his way over the Rosier and the stranger scowling, “Is this really the appropriate place?”

The man growled, “Who are you?”

Aurelius smirked, “Lord Prince, Lord Aurelius Prince.”

The man glanced at him up and down as if taking his measure, “I am Lyall Lupin, former consort of Lord George Potter and the Head of the Lupin family. You are one of the persons I wish to file a report against. What right had you to remove my grandson Remus from Hogwarts?”

Aurelius finally placed the name, “You are the person who captured the Screaming Bogey of Strathtully. We will continue this conversation; just give me a moment to speak with Lady Walpurga.”

He spun on his heel, dressrobes swirling behind him like wings even as he strode over to Walpurga and politely requested her permission to use the gentleman’s parlour to handle a Governors’ matter that just came up.

Walpurga excused herself from her conversation with Madam Hope Burbage and gestured for Apollus and Crouch to join them.

She sniffed imperiously as she crossed paths with Lyall and Eltanin Rosier; Eltanin was Andromeda’s grandfather, “Come along, we will take care of this at once.”

After leading them into the gentleman’s parlour, Walpurga sat primly and flicked her hand so the door closed behind them.

The imperious witch glowered at Lyall, “Explain yourself?”

It was bad Ton to behave in such a manner at a ball and Walpurga was rightfully displeased.

Lyall ground out, “I was informed by elf that my grandson Remus was removed from Hogwarts without my son Marrok’s consent and transferred to Durmstrang. I would like to have this explained to me, Marrok is understandable furious but between his bonded’s illness as well as his brother Charlus and Doria’s ill heath, I was summoned back to Britain to deal with this matter.”

Aurelius sneered, “Did your son tell you that Remus was a werewolf?

Lyall snarled, “No.”

“You grandson was dying, his very blood was rotting and he was turned to save his life. Ministry law grants custody to his new sire, you do work for the Ministry Department that handles Magical Creatures relationships so I would not be remiss in presuming that you know of such a law.” Aurelius said silkily.

Lyall growled, “My apologies for disrupting the festivities due to my idiot son’s selective truth-telling. Apollus, please pass on to his new guardian that i would like to speak with him as his earliest convenience. I will be staying at Potter Hall. My apologies once more Lady Walpurga for my previous rudeness and good evening.”

Lyall left still furious but with a more reasonable target this time.

It was strange attending a pureblood celebration and being of an age with his former schoolmates’ parents...

XooooooX

Around midnight in the Drawing room of Grimmauld Place, Walburga summoned the heads of the titled purebloods present.

“It is now time to select the hosts for this year’s Celebrations! Yes Lords Aurelius and Alaric, I have added your Houses to the lottery. A representative of each House will remove a slip from the chest and Lady Cassiopeia will record who picked which celebration. ”

Alaric and Aurelius were among the first to be called up.

“Imbolic?” Walpurga called out.

“The House of Greengrass.”

“Ostara?”

“House of Burbage.”

“Beltane?”

“House of Wood.”

“Litha?”

Aurelius drawled, “House of Prince.”

Whispers of surprise filled the Drawing Room...

“Quiet! Lughnasadh?”

“House of Longbottom.”

“Mabon?”

“House of Goyle.”

“Yule?”

“House of Slytherin.” Alaric smirked. “Lady Cassiopeia, I do hope that I can rely on your assistance and knowledge.”

The widowed Black witch curtseyed, “Of course my Lord...”

“New Year’s Eve?”

“House of Bones.”

“New Year’s?”

“House of Clearwater.”

It was interesting that both Alaric and Aurelius were chosen to host so soon after taking their rightful place in pureblood society...

Slowly the guests began to drift off returning home.

The younger children were likely sleeping in their nurseries.

Alaric and Aurelius stayed a bit longer lingering over their wine to talk more with Alaric’s loyal branded followers...

They didn’t have any plans for tomorrow that would necessitate them waking early...

 

 

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What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?

A/N: For more Severus, Lily and Remus with peeks at James and Sirius read the companion story Turning tides