Against His Nature

Against His Nature

“Shit.” Snape muttered to himself as he stared at his fellow co-workers sitting evenly spaced around the table. How he forced himself to do this every year was beyond him. Streamers, balloons and party hats decorated the small room, making it overbearingly bright and obnoxious. With a large sigh and a fake smile of enthusiasm Snape gingerly took his seat at the table. The only thing good to have ever come out of this particular day every year was the fact it would be another 365days before he had to endure it again.

“See Severus, we’ve gone all out this year.” With a familiar scowl darkening his eyes, Snape stared at the elder wizard across the table. Albus Dumbledore finest headmaster Hogwart’s had ever seen was sitting beaming at Snape. A jester party hat with three bells sat almost comfortably on top of the elder wizards gray hair making him look just a little more insane than usual. With a laugh and a flick of his wand sparkling fireworks and a rousing cheer erupted over the table, making Severus roll his eyes.

“Was that really necessary?” Snape muttered as he idly brushed the stray sparkles from his shoulder, where they’d settled on his robe.

“Of course it was. It is not every day our Potions Professor turns 38 now is it?” Snape groaned inwardly, as he watched the other members of the faculty hiding smirks behind their party napkins and whistles.

“Thanks.” Snape mumbled beneath his breath as he watched Professor Minerva McGonagall begin pointing at the multitude of plates laid out on the table.

“Now we’ve got all your favorites, Blueberry crumble, cream cakes, shortbread, ham and cheese sandwiches, fizzing sherbets, birthday cake and of course,” McGonagall paused and reached beneath the table, to pull out a large bottle with a ribbon tied around the neck. “Vintage fire whisky from the cellars.” McGonagall shook the bottle teasingly as Snape reached for it immediately. If he were going to get through the meal, he’d need at least two glasses of the amber liquid.

For as long as Severus had been professor at Hogwart’s, Albus had every year organized a small party for Severus’ birthday. Every year the parties had been different, for his thirtieth they’d all dressed up and for his thirty fifth all the food had been Slytherin green. Severus had begun to believe that Albus was trying to better humiliate him with every year.

Severus hated it.

He’d never celebrated his birthday as a child, and had until being employed by Albus never celebrated his birthday as an adult. The ‘Snape’ family were a proud well connected pureblood wizard family and celebrating birthdays only signified how much closer they were getting to death. It was a morbid thought but with Severus life how it was in service to the Dark Lord, every birthday was one more year he’d managed to survive.

Severus swilled his third glass of whisky around in the glass as he watched Albus polish off the last cream cake, the icing sugar clinging to the man’s bushy gray beard.

“Presents!” With the sugary feast devoured the table was cleared with a cursory flick of a wand before an array of brightly wrapped presents appeared on the table in front of Severus. This was the part Severus hated the most. Having to be gracious for receiving gifts he didn’t want or need, and further more was capable of buying for himself if he should have wanted them in the first place. With a long sip from his glass of fire whisky Snape began to unwrap the gifts. A new edition potion text from McGonagall, a large velvet potions travel case from Flickwick, three new waistcoats from Madam Pomfrey, another fortune telling paperweight from Sinstra and an assorted array of small practical gifts from the other absent teachers. The most interesting present however was Albus’.

“I’ve seen you admiring it for a long time Severus, I thought you deserved it this year.” Severus stared at the beautifully cradled ball of crystal shimmering on its three claw footed stand. It was an Eclomenical Ball. The ball was rare, and very expensive. Snape had seen only one on display at Withershaw’s and Ranks Magical Devices shop in Diagon alley. He’d been admiring it for months, and had wondered how such a device had made it onto the common market without the Ministry confiscating it. The ball was designed to watch, monitor and even alter dreams of anyone within its vicinity. It was a perfect gift.

“Thank-you.” Severus was genuinely appreciative and stared at the ball in aw as the party moved from the table in the staff room, onto the more comfortable armchairs seated around the fireplace.

Severus chose not to join his co-workers and instead after a dubious thank-you for the party and presents left to return to the safety of his dungeons.

His dungeons were his sanctuary. They were cool, quiet and totally devoid of meddlesome students at this time of year. Reaching his rooms, Severus put aside his assortment of gifts and collapsed onto his favorite armchair beside the fireplace. With an exhausted sigh of relief that he had yet again survived another birthday, he closed his eyes to rest.

His solitary moment was interrupted almost immediately as he felt the swell of the fireplace in front of him, followed by the flap of robes as someone stepped out of the flame onto his rug.

“Don’t you know how to knock?” Severus growled low in his throat as he cracked opened one eye to glare lopsidedly at his visitor. Severus knew who had come to see him. There was only one person arrogant enough as to use the floo connection into his rooms without prior invitation.

“Of course I do Sev but I figure you’re so hopelessly devoid of a life that the likely hood of me ever interrupting anything important is slim to non existence.” Lucius Malfoy smiled confidently at Snape as he brushed his robes free of floo powder before helping himself casually to a glass of Snape’s vintage fire whisky. Snape ground his teeth in irritation as he watched the blonde haired wizard casually peruse the pile of gifts Snape had left on the coffee table. “Nice.” Lucius muttered a mild display of interest as his gaze past over the glowing orb, before flippantly sitting himself down in the arm chair opposite Snape’s. Snape bit his lip forcing back a sneer of irritation as Lucius took a large sip of his whisky before crossing his legs over and staring smugly at Snape across the short living room space.

“What do you want?” Snape finally snapped his patience already waning having spent the last three hours at the humiliating spectacle that was his yearly birthday party.

“Nothing Severus, Is it too much to assume that I am just here to wish my friend a happy 38th birthday?” Lucius sipped again on his glass of whisky, the innocent smile he’d flashed the potion’s master not quite reaching his piercing blue eyes.

“There are only ever two reasons you come to see me Lucius, either you want something or you’re here to gloat.” Snape snapped as he pried himself out of his armchair and wandered over to his liquor cabinet to pour himself a glass of whisky. Lucius barked a rich melodious laugh as he swilled what remained of his whisky around the crystal glass. Snape chose not to refill the blonde’s glass not wanting to give Lucius any reason to stay longer than necessary.

“You think so little of me these days Severus,” Lucius poured what remained of his drink down his throat his gaze narrowing at Severus before lightening a little as he reached into his cloak and pulled free a small sealed letter. “I was at the Ministry this morning and I offered to bring you this.” Severus rested his glass on the mantelpiece above the fireplace as he reached for the letter and snatched it from Lucius grasp.

“What is it?” Snape scanned the outside of the letter cautiously, noting his full title and name scrawled perfectly on the front and the unbroken ministry seal on the back. Lucius’ smile turned disturbingly smug as he crossed his leg over and sat back confidently in the armchair.

“I’d call it a long overdue birthday gift from the Minister of Magic.” Snape’s eye twitched slightly with nervous irritation as he broke the seal on the letter and opened it. Like most formal letters from the Ministry the letter was scrawled in an elegant hand, and Snape held it up to the light in order to read it better.

“Professor Severus Julius Snape,” Snape read aloud pausing only briefly to glance up at Lucius over the top of the letter to see for himself that Lucius smug smile was still in place.

“The ministry regrets to inform you that due to the current hostile climate within the wizarding world that specific ancestry laws regarding pureblood families have been reinstated and enforced.” Again Snape paused, a niggling feeling of worry fluttering in his chest. “As referred to in Section 1123, Act 9 of the Old Law Magical Compendium, ‘Pureblood Wizards and Witches upon reaching their magical age of majority must be arranged in marital agreements and/or are willing to contribute to the creation of new life with a partner of equal status and willingness.” It took a moment for what Snape had just read to himself to sink in but when it did it hit like a Thestral to the chest.

“They can’t do this.” Severus shook his head in disbelief as he glared at the letter. Lucius chuckled to himself, his smile growing larger into a self-satisfied smirk that only a Malfoy could ever produce.

“I’m afraid they can Sev. The law has always been there it is just that no one saw fit to enforce it.” Lucius tilted his head to the side in amusement as Snape reached back for his glass of whisky on the mantelpiece and drained the amber liquid in one go. “Seems the Minister of Magic is getting jumpy about this war. He seems to think by marrying off the purebloods he can ensure the safety of the wizarding world by increasing our population with new blood and at the same time preserve the old families and the old magic.” Sev shook his head and began to pace back and forth in front of the fire, his disbelief beginning to turn to outrage and anger as Lucius continued to taunt him. “It seems to me Sev, you’ve just become prime meat in this war.” Severus spun around angrily mid stride at Lucius description of him, finally losing his temper. “Every self respecting pureblood parent is going to want to secure their son and daughter to a strong pureblood family. Being the last of the Snape line you’re going to get slaughtered when this get outs.” Lucius’ smile had turned vicious and Snape was tired of hearing the blonde’s self-righteous voice of reason.

“Well I guess I now know why you are here?” Snape snapped abruptly in his characteristic potion master snarl. Lucius chuckled and nodded, not in the least hesitant about his motives.

“I thought I’d get in early before the pawing masses begin beating a path to your door.” Lucius’ gaze followed Snape around the room, the potion master pacing again like a caged animal. The letter from the Ministry was so tightly clenched in Snape’s hands the ink on the parchment had begun to run with the perspiration.

“Forget it, I’ve got no intention of acting on this piece of rubbish.” Snape threw the paper into the fireplace. The fire spluttered and coughed before spitting the letter from the ministry back out onto the carpet. The edges were scorched a little but all in all the letter was still in readable condition.

“I wouldn’t be so hasty as to reject my offer yet Severus. If you do succeed in avoiding the inevitable offers from countless families, as well as undoubtedly a Ministry enforcement team, there will still be our Dark Lord to contend with.” For the first time since he’d opened the letter Snape’s thoughts strayed to Voldemort. Almost immediately Snape stopped pacing and stared at Lucius coldly. Lucius knew he’d won and smiled crookedly in self-congratulation. “You know as well as I do Severus, Voldemort will use this situation to his advantage. He will ensure marital alliances made within his ranks are loyal to him. If you do not choose a suitor for yourself, he will choose for you.” Snape closed his eyes in defeat as Lucius rose steadily from the armchair and took the necessary steps over to stand in front of the potion professor. “Draco is young Severus, he’s intelligent and good looking. He’s also very willing and certainly won’t disappoint you. The alliance between our families would be looked favorably upon on both sides of this war.” Lucius rested a hand on Snape’s shoulder but the potion’s master shook it off sharply and stepped away from the blonde.

“I am not going to be forced into a union I neither desire or need Malfoy.” Snape’s voice was icy cold his glare quite formidable as he stared at Lucius over his shoulder. Lucius nodded in silent acknowledgement and stepped towards the fireplace.

“They are not suggesting marriage Snape, a simple night with my son would be enough to secure the Snape family name and satisfy the Ministry laws.” Lucius took a hand full of floo powder from the silver box above the fireplace and tossed it into the fire. The flames erupted and turned green almost instantly. “You forget I know what you like Severus, what you crave. I can ensure my son knows how to please you so that the experience is not as wretched as some I’m sure you’ve experienced.” Snape’s gaze narrowed dangerously as Lucius glanced back at Snape as he made to step into the fireplace. “Perhaps had you fucked Lilly Evan’s a little harder in school you might not be in this situation now.” Lucius smile was pure evil as he stepped into the flame and disappeared. Not a second later the crystal glass that Snape had been holding shattered into a thousand pieces as it hit the fire surround, thrown with some force from Snape’s hand.

“Fucking birthday.” Snape shouted finally expressing his anger and rage in an uncharacteristic display of emotion. Glaring at the fireplace where Lucius had been moments before, Snape grabbed for his cloak and with his wand tucked into the sleeve of his robe took off out of his rooms and into the night.

TBC>>>>>>>>>

A/N

Now I know I should be finishing the stories I've already got started but my muse is up against a brick wall at the moment so I'm being forced to delve deep into the harddrive on my computer and dig up and oldy but a goody to get myself back on track. I hope you enjoy this rather quirky little story I started writing back when I still wrote DAAS fic. Thankies for the support and with my christmas vacation drawing closer expect some more frequent updates.....now if only I could scrape my muse from those bricks???? *looks around for crow bar...*

Cheers
RIFFRAFF