Three\'s A Crowd

Part - 5

It had been two fairly uneventful days since the announcement of the pregnancy and impending marriage of Severus Snape and Remus Lupin. Remus was in the Great Hall eating dinner with Harry, and frankly, worrying that he had yet to see Severus make an appearance when Mr. Filch rather testily informed him that one Sebastian Snape had arrived. Remus excused himself from the table and went out to the main entrance hall to meet him.

As soon as he walked in through the doorway to the entrance hall, Lupin knew exactly why Severus Snape hated his father.

The Potion Master was on his knees, arms obviously bound to his sides by a spell. Bruises already blossomed from Severus Snape\'s cheek, and his left eye was swelling shut. Standing over him with a look on his face that could only be described as contemptuous was what had to be his father.

There could be no mistake, the man might have been heavier, and his black hair turning gray, but his profile was almost a mirror of his son.

\"Stop! Leave him alone!\" yelled Remus rushing to stand between the obviously furious man and his injured son. \"What is the meaning of this?\" He glared at the taller man.

\"Not that it is any of your business, I am teaching this whore a lesson!\"

\"Severus is not a whore. The children he carries are the result of a potion accident, not sex.\" countered Lupin angrily as he knelt to help Severus to his feet. \"Finite Incantatum!\" he growled, using his wand to release Snape from the bonds. He managed to do this without taking his eyes from the other man.

Carefully he moved to keep himself between this intruder and the injured man. He did not need wolfish instinct to know that he had better not turn his back on Sebastian Snape.

\"What he said is true, Father. I did not sleep with anyone,\" Severus said in an uncharacteristically, small voice and he flinched visibly at the harsh response.

\"That will be the day! I know you, nothing but a filthy whore! You will spread your legs for anyone who will have you, just like your mother!\"

\"Then you should be glad for me to take him off your hands,\" Remus almost snarled with anger.

\"So, it is your bastards he carries? I should have guessed that he would pick someone like you to fuck. Well, I hate to disappoint you, but the bitch is coming with me. I already have an offer for him. It is much better than a pauper like you can come up with,\" He snorted noting Remus\' shabby robes.

\"You cannot take him! He carries my children!\" Lupin pushed Severus behind him. Surprisingly, Severus allowed this. He was dazed and did not appear completely aware of what was happening.

The wolf in the usually mild, brown haired man leapt to the fore, causing him to have to fight not to attack the threat and tear his throat out! He and Severus were not yet married, at least not by Wizarding law, but by the primitive instincts of the wolf, Severus carried his young, so Severus was Lupin\'s mate.

\"Stand aside. My family may have been brought low by circumstance these last few generations, but obviously not as low as you. The Ministry will recognize mine as the legitimate claim to that slut. I can sell him to whomever I chose.\"

\"I think not, Sebastian.\" Albus Dumbledore strode towards them with a deliberate steady gait. He stopped long enough to examine Severus, then turned to face his father, a very dangerous glint in his usually bemused eyes. \"Though I personally do not hold with this Pureblood nonsense, using your somewhat outdated criteria, my family outranks yours.\"

\"And this is supposed to mean something to me? You are not the father of the bastards in him, you have no say in the matter.\"

\"That has no bearing on the discussion, Sebastian. I have decided that I want to keep Severus here. So, you can either sell him to me, and make a very tidy profit, or I will challenge you to a duel for him and there is a very good chance that only one of us will survive.\"

Sebastian Snape shuddered at the words despite himself. He had no doubt which of them would be the survivor. \"Now, will you consent to the marriage between Severus and Remus, and take what you are given in compensation without complaint?\"

\"A duel? With you?\"

\"A duel, with me.\"

The two men glared at one another, in a sort of staring contest that was really no contest.

Dumbledore won.

The elder Snape hissed angrily, but finally nodded. If Dumbledore wanted to claim Severus Snape for whatever reason, he could superceded just about anyone in the wizarding world. \"You will give me your Wizard\'s oath that you will give up all claim to Severus and his children.\" The voice was calm, but those usually twinkling eyes flashed with something very dangerous.

\"Alright then. What do I care who gets this bitch as long as I am paid,\" he snarled. \"I swear by my wizard\'s oath . . .\" he began, his voice soft. He moved past Dumbledore to glare at his son who stood silently behind Lupin looking as if he wished to vanish into the stone floor. \"I relinquish my claim on you, Severus Snape, and whatever you whelp.\"

Lupin stepped back, pushing the unresponsive Severus out of harms way as his father drew a long silver dagger from his sleeve. But he made no move to attack, instead he cut his own hand, allowing the blood to drip onto the floor. \"By the blood we share, I renounce my rights to you and your disgusting progeny. By that blood I give you body and soul to your seducers.\" He glared at Dumbledore, his thoughts easily read. He believed that the Headmaster did not want to lose his bed warmer. \"You are now the property of the one whose bastards you carry, to serve his whims, submit to his needs and desires, for the rest of your miserable life.\" He turned as if to leave, then whirled and yelled. \"Imperious Bindus Totalis!\" He lashed out with his hand and threw blood at his son, splattering his already bloodied face.

For his part Severus stumbled backwards and fell against the wall, staring, black eyes wide with horror, even the left managed to open wider with shock. His head was shaking from side to side in obvious disbelief.

Dumbledore grabbed the man by his bleeding hand before the hand finished its arch, but an instant too late to stop the curse. \"Your compensation will be in Gringott\'s in the morning. Now get out of my school and never return.\" Only a very brave man would have stayed.

Sebastian Snape moved with undignified haste for the door.

\"Forgive me, Severus,\" said Lupin softly, holding the still shaking Snape by the shoulder and using a handkerchief to clean the blood from his face. \"I had not realized what he intended to do.\" He was a little surprised that Severus stood still and meekly allowed this.

Snape was staring straight ahead, oblivious to everything around him.

\"Nor did I,\" Dumbledore admitted with uncharacteristic anger in his usually sedate voice. His blazing eyes never leaving the younger man. \"After Poppy has a look at Severus, we have no choice but to tell Harry.\"

\"And we had both best have a long talk with Snuffles,\" said Remus, mindful that there were several students nearby, watching from the doorways.

He did not want to think about what Sirius would do being able to order Severus around like a house elf. Poor Severus would likely find himself giving Neville Longbottom foot massages, and singing show tunes in class if he were lucky!


tbc