On a Night Like This

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Chapter four: Take Lots with Alcohol

Sirius sat silently in his rooms with Severus, drinking firewhisky. He contemplated everything that had happened to him of late. He remembered nothing but haze from his time in the veil and there was no sense of time associated with it. It felt like a bleak dream that he had forgotten mostly upon waking. He had been most surprised when the headmaster informed him of the length of his absence. Sirius had fought tooth and nail when he found out he was to be hidden away again with his childhood nemesis. He had been shocked that they ended up getting along so agreeably. Well, after a rough start anyway. It was a testament to their bond that they could sit here simply not talking without any animosity or awkwardness, only comfortable silence and thought.

Thinking about what they had in common, he realized that it should not have been a surprise. They were both used to living a double life, though under different circumstances. Anything suspicious was immediately blamed on Snape because of his dark past. He remembered well the story Harry told him of their first year when they were convinced his was trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone and kill Harry. Never mind that he actually risked himself to protect him and the stone. He still had a scar from the aptly name “Fluffy.”

He could well relate, having spent a good portion of his life in Azkaban for a crime he never committed. They had both become very powerful wizards and were still young by standards both magical and muggle. Their tired and stressed appearance belied the fact that they were each only about thirty-five years. They had much life left to live, if they survived Voldemort.

He sometimes fantasized about what he would do if and when they defeated him. He imagined the relief when they cleared his name and the whole wizarding world knew that he was not and had never been the kind of man who would betray his friends. He saw himself walking down the street, a free man. He didn’t care if he was looked at a hero or not. He only wished to again be respected, not hated and reviled as a traitor. He could take a trip to Diagon Alley without a disillusionment charm, without a glamour, without an invisibility cloak.

He would move about as he pleased, window shopping and greeting his old friends. In his mind he painted a pretty young witch on his arm, her shining brown eyes looking up at him lovingly. Never, he told himself. What the hell is wrong with you, perverted old man! It did not matter how often he told himself this, for his mind was treacherous.

Severus watched his friend, immersed in thought. It had been strange at first, returning to the Order. By now everyone had accepted them back into the fold. It felt different without Albus, though. He supposed that was part of the reason they were relieved with his innocence. Obviously they were pleased that their mentor was not struck down in cold blood. He suspected that it had more to do with the headmaster than him.

It was a great shock for the Order, he knew, to discover that a man they believed could do no wrong was betrayed by someone he had trusted completely. There were some that were relieved to find him innocent and not a traitor (well technically he was still a traitor, it was more like a double traitor). The rest were more helped by their knowledge of Dumbledore’s complicity and found some comfort in knowing he had not been betrayed. It felt good for the others to know the truth, though he would never admit it to them.

He knew Sirius felt the same. It was a huge weight lifted when those you were closest to knew the truth. Others were an added bonus, but Severus had enough of his own worries to be unconcerned of what people he didn’t know thought of him. It pleased him greatly to be back with his colleagues, especially Minerva, and back to work bringing down the dark lord. However, a part of him was still empty. Not for much longer, he told himself.

Sirius finally broke the silence. “How is the potion coming along?” Severus was startled for a moment but quickly recovered. “Better than I expected. I have located most of the more uncommon ingredients and I expect to acquire the rest in the next week or so. There really is nothing special about the components, aside from the various kinds of blood it requires. I believe that someone from the Order fits in every category required so it shouldn’t be any problem. The tricky part is the amount of skill it requires to brew it. I shall not be able to do it alone, but I have the perfect person in mind to help.”

Sirius nodded, assuming that he meant Hermione. She had displayed an aptitude for potions, among her many other skills, he thought affectionately. Severus glanced at him, knowing he was thinking of Hermione. One did not spend day and night with someone for a good amount of time without being able to read them well. It was not who he meant, though she could be useful also. Severus decided to set aside things for her to work on. Her care and precision would lend itself well to preparing the ingredients, a task he could always use assistance with.

He found it rather ironic that the girl should be infatuated with him instead of his more eligible friend. Severus didn’t worry about it. She would come around. He knew that it was not Severus Snape that she loved, or really even liked. She admired his mind and had silly notions of bravery and his “noble” efforts for the light. He made a mental note to be extra snarky around her. Not like that would be difficult. He acknowledged that she was fast becoming a brilliant witch but she was still bloody annoying.

“We should go check on Draco. Is there anything that you could give him for those nightmares? I am worried about him.” Severus sighed heavily at the question. “I wish there was. There is nothing strong enough that would not leave a crippling addiction. He will have to find his own ways to cope with them. I know some of them are due to his worries about his father. The sooner we can get Lucius with us, the better. Hopefully that will abate the worst of them.”

Sirius knew that Lucius Malfoy had switched sides along with his son, though the Order didn’t. He chuckled inwardly thinking of their responses upon discovering that he was the source of some of their most valuable information. He was required at the dark lord’s side most days due to his privileged position in the Deatheaters. This meant his safety was always in jeopardy of he-who-must-not-be-named’s quick temper. He often “rewarded” his followers much the same way he punished them.

Sirius had expected to be revolted the first time they met, but he was completely different than the snooty aristocratic he remembered. Lucius kept up his cold, cruel image publicly, but privately was a very different man. He was actually quite polite to Sirius and joked with his old friend Severus. It was clear to Sirius that he would willingly give his life to protect his son.

“Agreed, although that will take some doing. I suspect that gaining the backing of the Order will be harder than bringing him here. Fortunately this is still my house. If it comes down to that, at least I can let him stay here without their approval.”

He really didn’t want to force it that way. All he could do was hope that Draco would act as a bridge. If he could gain their trust then they may give his father a chance. Hopefully he would make friends and not alienate his classmates. He rose to find the boy and Severus followed suit. He had a sneaking suspicion that he and the dream team were together and up to no good.

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