A Twisted Web We Weave

CHAPTER 3

A crystal bottle of aged brandy sat precariously on the edge of the coffee table between the two brothers as they talked quietly between themselves. Years had passed since they last conversed yet their chatter flowed just as uneasily as it had back when they’d been teenagers. For Severus Snape, potions professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry it was strange to have company in his rooms. There were very few people in the world Severus would consider a friend and far fewer still he’d acknowledge as being family.

“So little brother, this is your bachelor pad.” Severus watched as his elder brother stood up from the armchair opposite his own and began slowly circling the room, one hand gently inspecting the shelves of books and wizarding artifacts while the other idly swirled the glass of brandy in its grasp. Every hair on the back of Severus’ neck stood on end at the endearment his brother used. He’d hated that title since they were children and it seemed Julius had no intentions of dropping it now they were adults. “I’d expected something a little lighter?” The sarcastic look Julius threw over his shoulder at Severus made him bristle further and Severus hastily down what was left of his own brandy quickly to quell his growing irritation.

“I didn’t really have a choice it came with the position, besides it’s quiet down here.” Severus’ brother nodded, clearly not really interested in what his little brother had to say. Julius picked up an antique curse ball from Severus’ shelves and tossed it expertly in one hand. Severus held his breath the ball was over 500 years old, and priceless. However Julius lost interest quickly and put the ball back to rest in his cradle, Severus visibly exhaling in relief. “How are you settling in to the west wing?” Severus inquired of his brother having briefly swallowed his tongue as he watched his brother so casually inspect his most precious things.

“Wonderfully. I have a brilliant view of the Quidditch Pitch and I even have my own bath tub.” Julius Snape practically beamed at his brother as he finally came back to sit down on the armchair again, satisfied that he’d scoped his brothers small chambers. “The place was cluttered with ministry papers and documents, it took a bit of cleaning up.”

“That would have been that intolerable Umbridge woman’s. She was the ministry official who was teaching the position before you.” Severus reclined in his armchair as he finished off his second brandy of the evening, glad of the alcohol to relax him.

“What happened to her?” Julius inquired of his brother who grinned evilly at the memory.

“Lost in the depths of the Forbidden Forest I believe, having gone supremely mad. No great loss to wizarding society I assure you brother.” Severus smiled grimly at his brother who nodded in understanding. Julius had known Severus his entire life, and what Severus didn’t know about people’s characters wasn’t worth knowing.

“So any advice for Monday brother? Any students I should attempt to avoid? Or are you just going to dump me in the deep end?” Julius watched as Severus pondered this question for a moment, before finally his scowl deepened as a few names came to mind.

“If you wish to retain all of your limbs I suggest you avoid being at the wrong end of one Neville Longbottom’s wand. His ineptitude at everything remotely magical is beyond my comprehension.” Julius nodded quietly as he flicked a loose strand of long black hair back behind his ear. Severus tightened his hand around his glass as he watched the gesture, somewhat envious of how neat, trimmed and clean his brothers long black hair seemed to be in comparison to his own mangled, greasy mess.

“Longbottom? I remember that name.” Severus smiled at his brother knowingly before replying.

”So you should Neville is the son of the two auror’s currently in St Mungo’s after Voldemort got his hands on them.” Severus watched as realization sunk into his brother’s memory.

“Ah, those Longbottom’s.” Julius whispered as Severus continued.

“Then there’s the Weasley’s. A family whose generational coverage continues to grow. Their father Arthur Weasley works for the ministry so be careful what you say. You can’t miss them, they all have red hair. Ronald is the one you particularly want to watch.” Severus waited for his brother to note the comment before going on. “Then there’s that Granger girl an insufferable muggle born know-it-all. She excels in everything and becomes quite tiresome after several hours of teaching her.” Julius laughed, as he remembered a time when his little brother had been termed an insufferable know-it-all by one of his own professors. Severus knew the memory that his brother was laughing at but again bit his tongue, determined to make their strained relationship work if not for his brothers sake then for his own sanity. “Weasley and Granger alone aren’t much trouble but it’s their chosen company that makes the Gryfindor trio rather irritating.”

“Gryfindor Trio?” Julius inquired completely blown away by how much Severus knew about his students.

“Yes, Granger, Weasley and Potter.” Severus spat out the last name with venom watching as his elder brother frowned at such clear conviction towards children.

“Potter?” Julius pushed watching as Severus scowled angrily at the fireplace as if the bane of his existence was really standing there in front of him.

“Yes Harry James Potter. The boy that has an uncanny ability to find trouble and still escape with his life intact.”

“The Harry Potter?” Julius asked completely stunned that the wizarding world’s savior was currently at Hogwarts, where he, come Monday, was going to be teaching.

“Yes, but don’t believe everything you’ve read. I find him an irritatingly spoilt little shit. Who just like his blasted father seems to get away with murder around this place. The headmaster thinks the sun shines out of his arse but I assure you it doesn’t. Beyond the ‘fame’ he’s just an average student, who is barely passing and shows no respect for the rules. If you want my advice it’s stay out of his way.” Severus sighed heavily and turned his attention from the fire back to his elder brother who was staring at him with a strange smile on his lips.

“If I didn’t know better brother I’d say you liked this Harry Potter.” Severus nearly choked on his own tongue as he chuckled sarcastically towards his brother.

“Well think again dear Julius, my dislike of Potter runs even deeper than that which I have of his godfather, who thankfully is no longer with us.” Severus spat sharply and stood up from his chair, moving swiftly into his potions lab to return a moment later with a small tray of crackers and cheese, which he put on the coffee table to share with his brother.

“So I’m assuming that was the incident at the ministry last year?” Julius glanced at Severus who nodded quietly. There wasn’t much that went on in the wizarding world that Julius Snape didn’t know about. Admittedly the wizard took no interest in most things to do with the wizarding world and the ministry but it didn’t mean he took no notice of what was going on.

“Mmm, the stupid boy has been channeling visions from Voldemort. He was literally lured there by the dark lord. Like normal, chaos ensued and after a heated battle, Sirius Black had fallen through the Veil and was no more. Much to my own sick pleasure the sods gone, but I believe Potter has been coping rather miserably with his loss all summer. I live in hope that perhaps he’ll return this year a little less stupid but that will remain to be seen.” Severus munched idly on the corner of a wafer with soft cheese spread on it. Julius was taking in everything in quiet contemplation.

“So Harry Potter, the boy who lived seems to be quite the bane of your life Sev. I’m surprised you know so much about him.” Careful that he didn’t sound as if he was prying too much Julius continued after having another of his own crackers.

“Well it’s my unofficial job to keep my eye on the boy, I report to two master now you know.” Julius nodded in understanding having, for a long time understood the situation his brother had unfortunately gotten himself into.

“How is it?” Julius didn’t need to acknowledge what he was talking about; the unspoken words more than Severus needed to reply.

“Difficult.” Severus whispered unconsciously rubbing his inner arm where the dark mark lay, hidden beneath the folds of his robe.

“How often?” Julius inquired instinctively running his own hand over the patch of skin where the faint outline of the same dark mark used to be.

“Depends on his mood. If Potter’s upset him it can be up to three times a week. Lately it’s been about once a month, but when school begins I expect it to increase again.” Julius sighed and took another cracker from the plate.

“Is Malfoy still around?” Severus rolled his eyes and glared at his brother pointedly.

“Unfortunately yes. His son, Draco is in the same year as Potter.” Julius seemed surprised at this and looked slightly shocked across at his younger brother.

“He’s got a son? I thought…” Severus was quick to cut his brother off before he could continue.

“Lucius and I ended a long time ago Julius, and I would appreciate it if you don’t bring it up again.” Severus stared at his brother who reluctantly nodded, suspicious now of what had happened between the pair.

“So where do you get your kicks from now?” Julius inquired cheekily watching as Severus calmly stood up and moved over to the fire, his back to his brother as he stood stiffly in the warmth.

“I don’t.” Was the simple reply. Julius however wasn’t satisfied and frowned at his brother in concern.

”You don’t? What’s that supposed to mean, I’m assuming you still fuck.” Julius accused almost stunned that his little brother had given such a stupid reply.

“Well you assumed wrong Julius. I am not currently in the position to take a lover, nor do I wish to. I have for sometime lived without sex, and I am quite content without it. Besides I don’t have the time.” Severus seemed quite sharp all of a sudden his reluctance to be discussing this topic with his elder brother very clear to Julius. It didn’t help either that for as long as Severus could remember his brother and he would always end up talking about sex, and how grossly inadequate Severus sex life was in comparison to his elder brothers. Regardless of the tense situation however Julius persisted, intent on knowing what Severus had been doing with his life as a teacher.

“There’s always time for sex Severus, even if it’s a little self indulgence. You do still do that I’m hoping?” Julius didn’t look too sure that Severus did still do that, but as Severus turned around a small smile lifting the corner of his lips, Julius knew he’d hit on something.

“Well you have to let off stress sometimes but strictly after school hours and never with company.” Julius nodded understandingly his green eyes twinkling in the firelight.

“I suppose I better head back to my chambers. I’m rather nervous about tomorrow now you’ve told me all that.” Julius slowly rose to his feet and collected his robe that he draped carefully around himself. Severus walked his brother to the door of his chamber both of them pausing either side of the threshold.

“I’m glad you’re here Julius, but rather dubious about your appointment. This isn’t some seedy bar full of vampires and veela’s, this is a school full of children. You need to remember that.” With a strained show of affection Severus hugged his brother stiffly before drawing back and smiling at him weakly.

“I will remember that Severus, and I’m sure you won’t let me forget.” With a cheeky wink Julius was gone, disappearing into the shadows like the true hunter he was. With a disgusted shake of his head Severus returned to his small sitting room and collapsed in a deflated heap in his chair. If Julius thought he was nervous, he had no idea how stressed Severus was. Come tomorrow afternoon the school would be alive with students ready for another year at Hogwarts and Severus would unfortunately have to reveal his relationship with the newest defense against the dark arts teacher. There was no telling the chaos that would ensue when the world was made aware of Julius Snape, Severus’ elder brother and all round smug, self-righteous bastard….well in Severus opinion anyway.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>