FIC: HP - Twist Of Fate (4/?)
Title: Twist of Fate (4/?)
Rating: PG at the moment
Pairings: Some unexpected Sirius/Severus! Surprised me too.
Summary: What if instead of solidifying the enmity between the Marauders and Snape, the incident in Sixth Year created something of an epiphany in James? What if he saw how dangerous their pranks were becoming, how Sirius had nearly killed Snape and how utterly unfair Dumbledore had been? What if he decided it was time things changed?
Disclaimer: Unfortunately Harry and his friends and teachers are not mine. I wish they were though.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3


Chapter 4

The living room at Spinner’s End was lit only by the light of the fire in the fireplace. Severus was slumped in on of the comfortable but rather tattered armchairs and in front of him sat a three-quarters empty bottle of Firewhiskey. An empty glass dangled precariously from the young man’s fingers as he stared into the fire.

Lily was marrying James today. In fact they would already be married and in the middle of their reception. He wasn’t there... obviously. He couldn’t go, not and maintain the impression that he was a loyal Death Eater who despised all that was the Light. For the first time he was thankful for this hated role for he wasn’t sure he could have borne watching Lily marry James with a smile... or the closest he could come to one... on his face.

Severus had ‘celebrated’ by getting rather spectacularly drunk. He had of course had the good sense to brew a very potent hangover potion for the next day; he was far from stupid after all. But for now he was quite happy to let this day pass in an alcoholic haze.

It took several minutes for the quiet knocking on his front door to register and for a moment, he did nothing. There wasn’t anyone he wanted to talk to right now. But the knocking continued and continued and continued and finally Severus scowled and thumped the glass down on the table. He rose unsteadily to his feet and swayed for a moment before making his careful way over to the door. When he opened, there was no one outside.

“Bloody hell, Severus, move so I can come in,” came a whisper that sounded suspiciously like Sirius.

Severus frowned and stepped outside, hearing Sirius’ muffled curse then the soft sound of footsteps going into his home. He looked around, swaying slightly, then he stomped back into the house, slamming the door shut behind him.

Sirius was standing over near the fireplace with a shimmering, silvery cloak draped over one arm. He was wearing dress robes and looked somewhere between exasperated and relieved.

“Dammit, Severus, what took you so bloody long?”

Severus slouched down into his chair again then leaned forward to fill up his glass again. “I am drunk and did not feel like getting up,” he announced almost grandly.

Silence was his only reply and he ignored Sirius in favour of taking a good long drink and slumping down in his seat again.

“Got more of that,” was the eventual response from Sirius.

Severus waved regally towards the bottle sitting in the bookshelf not far away. “Of course.”

He watched as Sirius stripped down to pants and shirt, found a spare glass and poured himself a decent shot of the Firewhiskey. Sirius sat down in the armchair opposite Severus’ and took a drink.

“So this day sucked for you as well?” he said, saluting Severus with his glass.

Severus snorted. “Obviously. However I fail to see why you are not... wherever they are. Surely you should be eating, drinking and making merry with whoever will have you?”

Sirius grinned at him. “You’re pretty articulate for a drunk man.”

“I am always articulate,” Severus said, carefully pronouncing that last word.

Sirius took another sip of his whiskey and snickered. “Always, eh?”

Severus arched an eyebrow. “I do not want to know what juvenile thought has just occurred to you. I want to know why you are here.”

Sirius shrugged and suddenly found the whiskey in his glass fascinating. “Damned if I know. I just didn’t want to be there, you know? I love Lily like a sister but it feels like she’s taking my best friend away from me.”

“She is,” Severus said bluntly.

Sirius scowled at him. “You didn’t have to agree.”

Severus snorted. “Why not? And drink. Why should I be the only drunk person here?”

Sirius gave one of his barking laughs and tossed down the rest of the Firewhiskey in his glass. He gasped at the sudden burn then filled his glass up with what was left in the bottle. He then snagged the second bottle and thumped it down on the table.

An hour later they had finished the second bottle and had started drinking the bottle of cognac Severus had found tucked into the cupboard in the kitchen.

“This belonged to my father,” Severus said, enunciating each word carefully as he nudged the dusty bottle with one finger. They were both sitting on the floor in front of the couch, large cognac glasses in their hands. “He was a Muggle. I hated him.”

“You’re a half-blood?” Sirius slurred. “I didn’t know.”

Severus shrugged. “Never said anything about it. Not in Slytherin.”

“Don’t blame you,” Sirius said, nudging Severus’ shoulder with his own. “Did you hate your father because he was a Muggle? Didn’t take you for the type.”

Severus contemplated shaking his head then decided not to. “No. I hated him because he was a bastard. He used to hit me until I let him think I had found a way around the prohib... prohib... rule against students using magic outside school. Then he was afraid of me.”

“My dear old Mum is insane,” Sirius offered. “She wanted me to be the good son and become a Death Eater. I left home last summer.”

“Regulus is all but confirmed as a Death Eater,” Severus said before taking a sip of his cognac. “He’s been to some of the open meetings.”

Sirius snorted and slid sideways until he was propping himself up against Severus. “He’s the good little boy. Stupid idiot.”

Severus frowned down at Sirius and poked him twice with one long finger. “What are you doing?”

“Getting comfortable,” Sirius replied.

“Why are you doing so on me?”

“You’re convenient?”

“So is the couch.”

Sirius didn’t answer and Severus leaned in a little closer and prodded the other man again.

“Ow! Bugger off,” Sirius said then he looked up.

Severus drew in a sharp breath when he saw how close their faces were and went to move back. Sirius caught his wrist and held him in place.

“Not so much on the indifference, eh?” Sirius said, a gleam in his eyes that made it through the drunken haze.

Severus yanked his wrist free and lurched to his feet, nearly falling before he caught himself on the arm of the couch. “Fuck off, Black,” he said angrily, turning away from the other man.

He didn’t see Sirius clamber to his feet, a determined look on his face, and he also didn’t see the other man walk over to him. The next thing he knew, he’d been spun around and pushed up against on of the many bookshelves in the room. He could feel the books pressing into his back as Sirius pressed against his front.

“I wasn’t taking the piss,” Sirius growled.

Severus struggled, trying to push Sirius away before his body gave away the fact that the alcohol he’d drunk had seriously eroded his self-control. He wished he’d drunk more so that his loss of self-control wouldn’t matter. After all, there was nothing like too much alcohol to kill the mood even if you were in the mood. “Then what were you doing?”

Sirius grabbed Severus’ wrists and pushed them up over his head, pressing up tight against his body. Severus gasped as he felt Sirius’ erection grind against his own.

“Something along those lines,” Sirius said with a moan.

“I’m not even sure I like you,” Severus snarled, angry at himself for displaying this... weakness to Sirius.

“Who gives a shit?” Sirius replied, nipping at Severus’ bottom lip. “Now do you want to fuck me or not?”

Severus gave him a startled look then scowled. He abruptly leaned forward and kissed Sirius. It was hard and messy and Severus bit down almost savagely on his bottom lip but Sirius didn’t care. It felt good and he wanted something hard and fast tonight.

“You got a bedroom?” he gasped, bucking against Severus urgently.

“No, I sleep here on the couch,” Severus replied, his voice harsh and sarcastic. He thrust one hand towards one of the bookshelves on the other wall and it swung open. “Upstairs.”

Sirius pulled away from Severus with a curse then swore once again when Severus grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him through the doorway and up the stairs.

Sirius woke up with his head pounding, his mouth feeling like the bottom of a birdcage and an arm across his stomach. None of these things were overly surprising to him and he lay there with his eyes closed until he summoned up the strength to open them up and let whoever was responsible for the arm remind him of what he’d done the previous night. It took several minutes to get to that point and when he opened his eyes he was confronted with the sleeping form of Severus Snape. He propped himself up on one elbow and frowned slightly.

Sirius froze and blinked then the events of the previous day and night came back to him in a rush. He gave a snort of amusement; perhaps the Gryffindors had been all wrong about what went on in the Slytherin dorms because Severus gave been surprisingly good. He certainly wasn’t the virgin that the Gryffindors had mockingly presumed him to be. And given the man’s apparent preoccupation with Lily, that raised all sorts of questions in Sirius’ mind, questions he doubted he’d ever get the answers to.

As he stared at Severus, the other man began to slowly stir and Sirius was able to tell when he’d woken enough to be aware of his surroundings because Severus first winced badly enough to tell Sirius that his erstwhile lover’s hangover was as bad as his and then he suddenly froze. A moment later Severus’ eyes opened and for a brief moment surprise flickered through them before they went utterly blank.

“We got drunk and had sex,” Sirius said quietly and as cheerily as he could manage given his hangover. “I don’t regret it, I hope you don’t regret it and who the hell have you been shagging because you’re pretty damn good at it?”

Severus stared at him for a long moment then swore under his breath and rolled over and climbed out of the bed, wavering momentarily before becoming steady on his feet. Sirius watched him warily as he stalked out of the room then flopped down on the bed again and threw one arm over his eyes.

“Well, shit,” he muttered under his breath, wondering if he should just cut his losses and get out while he still had unhexed bollocks.

He was just about to sit up and start looking for his clothes when Severus stalked back into the room with two steaming goblets in his hands. Severus shoved one of the goblets at Sirius then drained the contents of his own. Sirius stared down at the goblet then shrugged and drank the potion.

Severus gave Sirius a withering look. “You are a fool, Bl... Sirius. You drank that without even asking what it was.”

Sirius shrugged and put the goblet down on the bedside table. “I assumed it was the same thing as was in your goblet.”

“But you didn’t know,” Severus said harshly.

“Well, I figured there would have been a lot more yelling first if you were going to poison me,” Sirius said with a sigh of relief as the hangover potion started working. “Now are you planning on hexing me or are you going to be reasonable about this?” He then grinned quickly. “I’m figuring the latter or you wouldn’t be standing around naked.”

Severus gave him another withering glare. “It is my bedroom. I can stand around naked if I wish.”

Sirius chuckled and took a good look at Severus now that he could do so without squinting against the light. “Damn, you’re thin and where the hell did you get those scars?”

Severus was annoyed to find himself blushing at Sirius’ scrutiny and comments, his annoyance levels even greater than usual given what they’d done the previous night. Admittedly he was still more than a little baffled that the previous night had happened at all. He had no idea what Sirius’ ‘type’ was but before last night he would have said that he was the farthest thing from it. He would also have thought that Sirius Black was the last man on earth who would bottom for someone else on a one-night stand.

“Why are you still here?” he said, some of his confusion and frustration bleeding into his tone.

Sirius shrugged, noting that Severus had avoided his question about the scars. “Given that we were both drunk last night, I thought it would be better to stay and clear the air. Besides I didn’t wake up until a few minutes before you did.”

Severus had to concede the point on that one. “Then last night was...” He trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence.

“A bit of fun,” Sirius said with a shrug. “Stress relief. A bloody good shag. Take your pick.” A thought occurred to him. “I’m not going to tell anyone if you don’t want me to. I understand the position you’re in.”

“I somehow doubt that,” Severus said dryly as he headed for the bathroom.

Sirius frowned at that response. “What’s that meant to mean?”

He didn’t get a response and he slowly climbed out of the bed and started to search for his clothes.

**********************************************************************

Severus strode out of the ballroom at Malfoy Manor, his face set and a sardonic sneer curling his lip. He nodded briefly to the Death Eaters he passed but didn’t stop to chat, instead making his way out of the manor and apparating to the Shrieking Shack. He paused outside the ramshackle structure and leaned against the wall of a moment, swiping one hand down his face as he tried to push the images of what had just happened out of his mind.

A large part of him wanted to turn and leave, go back to his home and bury himself in his brewing until he could get his composure back. But James, Sirius and Remus were waiting for him and if he didn’t show up, they’d be frantic and would probably bring Charles Potter and Alastor Moody into the search. He was in no mood to face the two formidable Aurors right now.

He drew in a deep breath and pushed the door open then made his way through the Shack until he got to the room where they usually met. The three Gryffindors were already there and Potter’s eyes narrowed when he saw Severus.

“What’s happened?” Potter demanded.

Severus reflected that somehow he’d become good enough friends with Potter for the other man to be able to read him at least a little and that surely that indicated the apocalypse was coming. He also had the random thought that marriage seemed to have turned Potter from a carefree lunatic into a sober and responsible man. He turned that thought aside before it could delve into the subject of Lily with the ease of long practice. He wasn’t sure if Sirius had told the others about his feelings for Lily though James’ reaction seemed to indicate the answer to that was no. Either way, he had no intention of giving it away now.

“Severus?”

Severus looked over at James and swallowed hard. He turned to Sirius, who looked a little startled by Severus’ sudden regard.

“Regulus is dead,” Severus said bluntly.

Sirius flinched a little. “How? Why?” His voice was flat and grim.

“The Dark Lord killed him,” Severus replied. “He did not say what Regulus had done but he was furious. He... tortured Regulus for some time before killing him.” He paused for a moment. “The Killing Curse was a mercy by the time he finally used it.”

Sirius paled and turned away, stalking over to the window and staring out over the landscape. Remus glanced between Severus and Sirius then hurried over to join his fellow Gryffindor, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Did anyone look like they knew what Regulus had done?” James asked quietly.

Severus shook his head. “Even Lucius and Rodolphus looked surprised when Regulus was dragged into the room. I have never seen Lord Voldemort so angry nor have I ever seen his anger so directed. For once he did not turn it on anyone else in the room; it was solely focused on Regulus.”

“Could you find out?” James asked.

Severus snorted. “Unlikely though I will try. But it will take time and subtlety. Do not expect a quick answer.”

“No, that’s fine,” James said hurriedly. “And drop it entirely if you think it’s too dangerous.” He waited until Severus nodded before continuing, “Did anything else happen?”

Severus shook his head. “No, this meeting was solely for the purpose of making a point. Lord Voldemort said several times that Regulus had betrayed him and that this was the price of betrayal, that we should all remember this.” He snorted again then continued dryly, “The point was taken on board by everyone.”

James grimaced though neither man openly acknowledged that what Severus had seen could well be his own fate if Voldemort ever found out the truth of his loyalties.

“Thanks,” James said with a respectful nod even as his gaze flickered over to Sirius.

Severus nodded in reply then quickly left; he would leave the comfort or otherwise of Sirius Black in the hands of Potter and Lupin.

*************************************************************************

Severus hurried through the shadowy lanes of Godric’s Hollow, constantly looking over his shoulder and casting spells to determine if he was being followed. He was taking an enormous risk by coming here but the news he had was urgent and couldn’t wait until the regular meeting he had with Moody. He had just come from one of the more startling Death Eater meetings he ever been privy to and while he didn’t quite know what to make of it, the implications were alarming.

He paused at the end of the laneway he was in and cast several spells in the direction of the small cottage that lay opposite him. Once he was certain that there were no watchers nearby, he hurried across the street and through the gate. He glanced around furtively before knocking on the door then hoped like hell that Potter would answer the door quickly.

He was just glancing around when the door opened and he turned back and was startled to find Lily opening the door and not James.

“Severus,” she said with surprise.

“Quiet!” Severus said harshly then he pushed past her. “Close the door and lock and ward it. Where’s James?”

“In the living room,” Lily said with confusion, even as she did as Severus had demanded. “Oh, we have some news to share...”

She trailed off as she realised that she was talking to Severus’ back. Her old... former... she wasn’t sure which... friend had immediately stalked down the corridor, peering through doors until he found the living room. She frowned and followed him quickly. She knew it took a lot to rattle Severus and she wanted to know what was going on.

“There’s a problem,” Severus said to James, not even sparing a glance at Lily when she followed him into the room.

“Good evening, Severus. Take your cloak off. Have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea or maybe something stronger?” James said with dry amusement. “You’re really not one for the social niceties, are you?”

Severus actually snarled in response, startling both James and Lily. The joking mood slipped away from James in a flash and he got to his feet.

“Severus, take that damn cloak off and sit down,” he ordered. “Lily, get the Firewhiskey. I have a feeling we’re going to need it.” Lily gave him a hard look but went to get what he asked for when he gave her a second pleading look.

James looked Severus over with shrewd eyes as Severus stripped his cloak off and sat down heavily in one of the armchairs. “You had a meeting tonight? You didn’t tell us.”

“What meeting?” Lily asked as she came back into the room with a bottle of Firewhiskey and three glasses. “What in Merlin’s name is going on?”

James ran a hand through his hair. He’d always known keeping this secret from Lily was going to get him into trouble. “Okay, short version. You already know that Severus is friends with Remus, Sirius, Peter and me. What you don’t know is that Severus has been acting as a spy among the Death Eaters for us. He reports to my Dad and Alastor Moody if he can. To me and Sirius and Remus, if he can’t.”

“What?” Lily said, looking outraged, though James wasn’t entirely sure whether that was caused by him keeping secrets or the danger Severus was in.

Severus had been scowling through all of this. “You’re pregnant,” he said harshly to Lily.

Silence fell in the room as both James and Lily stared at Severus with surprise.

“I... yes,” Lily said faintly. “How did you know? We’ve only told a few people.”

“You have a traitor in your midst,” Severus said flatly.

“Voldemort knows?” James said with a frown. “Why would he care? Other than the fact that I’m polluting the pure Potter bloodline with my Muggleborn wife.” The last was said in very mocking tones.

Severus grimaced. “Someone... he didn’t identify who... has overheard a prophecy. He has interpreted it to mean you... or rather your yet-to-be-born child.”

Now James paled and he clutched at Lily’s hand as tightly as she grabbed at him. Severus’ eyes flickered down to their joined hands then he resolutely brought them back up.

“Perhaps you’d better tell us everything,” James said grimly. “Including who this traitor is because we haven’t told all that many people yet.”

“I don’t know who the traitor is,” Severus said, his tone matching James’. “The Dark Lord did not identify him. He only called him his newest loyal Death Eater. But he is close to you and knows of Lily’s pregnancy.”

“I suppose that narrows things down a little,” James muttered. “He wasn’t there? You couldn’t identify anything about him?”

Severus shook his head and James sighed. “Dammit. So what’s this prophecy?” He snorted. “I can’t believe I actually said that. Voldemort believes in prophecies? Really?”

“Some do come true,” Lily said firmly. “Not all of them because the future is always fluid but some definitely do. They keep records of prophecies and whether or not they’ve come to pass in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry.”

“They do? How do you know that?” James asked.

“Because I looked at joining the Department of Mysteries before Albus recruited us for the Order,” Lily replied. “Then I decided to delay any decision until after the war.”

“Oh,” James said, looking a touch gormless then he gave himself a shake and turned back to Severus. “So what’s so terrible about this prophecy?”

“It was overheard at the Hog’s Head,” Severus explained. “Dumbledore was interviewing someone called Sybill Trelawney for the Divination position at Hogwarts when she apparently abruptly broke off what she was saying then started talking in a low, hoarse voice unlike her normal voice. Whoever it was only heard part of the prophecy but what they heard was enough for the Dark Lord to think about acting.”

“And what did he hear?” James asked patiently.

Severus hesitated for a moment then recited the words Voldemort had announced so grandly to the gathering. “The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal.” He grimaced. “There might have been more to it but the barman of the Hog’s Head caught the listener eavesdropping and threw him out.”

“Oh man,” James said quietly. “So Voldemort thinks that our child will be the one to defeat him. Oh hey! Will mark him. It’s going to be a boy.”

“Yes, because that’s the important part of that prophecy,” Severus said acidly.

“Thrice defied him,” Lily mused softly. “Surely we can’t be the only ones?”

Severus frowned. “He mentioned something about the Longbottoms but he dismissed them out of hand. He seemed to view you and your... son to be the greater threat.”

“Yes, Alice sent me an owl last week telling me she was pregnant,” Lily said with a nod. “But he doesn’t think they fit the prophecy?”

Severus shook his head. “I don’t know why he’s fixated on you but he has. And that combined with the traitor means you must protect yourselves.”

“We should probably talk to Albus about this,” James said, knowing Severus was right but not liking the idea too much. “Don’t worry. I’ll leave your name out of it, Severus. Though how I’m going to do that is going to be interesting. Albus is one hell of an interrogator at times.”

“You cannot mention my name to anyone other than Remus and Sirius,” Severus said, getting to his feet and grabbing his cloak. “You have a traitor close to you and I do not wish to meet Regulus’ fate.”

James also got to his feet and nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t. Though... are you sure you can’t stay for a bit?”

Severus shook his head. “I need to be where I’m supposed to be. Coming here was a calculated risk but I cannot linger.”

James nodded and escorted Severus to the door, watching as the Slytherin disappeared into the shadows.