Chapter Text
Severus wakes up to slight tickling on his face. He opens his eyes slowly, a bit confused where he is and what had happened. He’s not in the dungeons and someone is in the bed with him.
Then the events of last night come to mind.
“Morning, Sev,” Siri smiles at the boy. “How are you feeling?”
Severus is stunned. He’s trying to remember what happened after his breakdown, but he comes blank, realizing he must have fallen asleep. From his other side, James whispers in his ear: “Good morning. It’s eight, we should slowly head down to breakfast.”
Calculating what this all means, what exactly had happened here and how does he stand with the two Gryffindors, Severus looks uneasy. Are they giving him a free pass to leave without any consequences? Did yesterday mean that they would really leave him alone, and maybe sometimes, when they happen to be alone, they come and talk to him? Does that mean they won't hate him, at least?
Just when Severus wanted to slip from between their bodies to take his clothes and flee, Sirius leans back to the scared Slytherin and kisses his cheek, cuddling close to him. “Ten more minutes!” the boy giggles and kisses Snape on his neck.
James hugs Severus close too, kissing his hair. “How did you sleep, Sev?”
He’s still Sev. They… they still talk to him. Even after his embarrassing breakdown. “I… I apologize for yesterday. I didn't intend to… cause such scene.”
“Scene? What are you talking about?” Sirius ruffles his hair and cuddles closer, feeding off the sleep-warm skin.
“How do you feel?” James repeats affectionately, bumping his nose gently to Snape’s cheek.
“I… slept well, I don't… remember falling asleep. I apologize,” he offers to the other boy, hoping to be understood - he didn't mean to cry all over either of them.
“No apologies, Sev,” James mumbles and caresses his upper arm and shoulder. “You needed a good cry, and we were here for you. You deserve much more than that.”
“Hm-hm,” Sirius agrees. “Anytime. Come to us anytime you need us. For cuddle, for a shoulder to cry, or only for a talk. I’ll always be here for you, Onyx.”
Severus’ heart shudders. He still has a Marauder’s name, and the two boys still cuddle him, kiss him, talk to him, and they still offer him friendship beyond this terrible experience. They still want him, even after everything he told them.
“We both will,” James mumbles into the back of his neck, and tugs him into his arms further.
It’s the shock, or the warm, solid body, Severus doesn't know - he just lets Potter lead him into the secure, warm embrace. He settles against James’ chest with his entire back and finally understands why is Sirius whining for it. There is never going to be more comfortable place to rest than in James’ arms, he thinks. In a second, he’s got an armful of warm bronze body with long, black hair, giggling into his neck.
“I know it sounds weird,” the Black heir giggles, “but I’m really glad we finally found you, Sev.”
“Entirely masochistic,” Severus deadpans, which has both Gryffindors laughing. Severus can't believe his own ears - he’s made the two handsome boys smile at something he said.
“Yeah, maybe,” Sirius looks up to see Severus’ face. “But I’m still glad. I’m sorry, Severus. For being rude, awful, and cruel to you. And thank you for saving my life.”
Not knowing what to say (and not trusting his voice, that much) Severus just… pushes Sirius against himself again. Sirius giggles and kisses his neck, and his chin, and his cheek. James joins in with the cuddles and kisses, and Severus doesn't know how to deal with it. He just knows he doesn't want to cry, and that his face is stretching with a smile he didn't really allow. It just happened, without his consent.
“Awww,” James coos and kisses his cheek. “I've never seen you smile like that!”
Sirius immediately looks up as well, grins back at their new friend, and then hugs him so tight Severus has troubles breathing. But honestly, he doesn't mind. He’s tentative and still afraid, but maybe his life won't be as terrible now.
“What… was the curse about, anyway?” Sirius asks after a while of comfortable silence.
“It’s a disinheriting curse for a First Born Son. You see, in pureblood families, the eldest son is a… position, rank, rather than a family thing. For simplicity, you being a firstborn, as well as being male, gives you nearly untouchable position in the family tree - and Wizengamot as well. So, while you can disinherit nearly everyone in the family by simply scratching them out of your will and throwing them out of the main family houses, you can't do that to First Born Son, especially First Born Son in the main family branch. To be able to do that, you have to partake in this exact curse. Most of it is in Greek, so I won't translate it precisely, as it is originally a poem. In general, the curse attacks your sight because it’s believed to be the place of soul, then your hands to make you stop using your wand and therefore magic, and of course your genitals, to stop you from having children.”
“That’s disgusting,” James whimpers and reaches for his best friend.
“Yet, I’m not surprised,” Siri laughs humourlessly.
Severus gently pats his arm. “I’m sorry.”
Siri beams down at the Slytherin. “I’m really glad you were there, Sev.”
“Yeah,” James agrees and snuggles into Severus’ back. “So smart.”
Sirius huffs a “Uh-um!” and nuzzles back to Snape’s neck. “Wait,” he sits up suddenly. “Does that mean I’m not disinherited?”
“Of course? Your family can't really disinherit you just by throwing you out of the house,” Severus explains. “You are the Heir of Black. Your right to pureblood name, meaning the estates and fortune, is superior to all others in the family.”
“How comes you know more about this than us?” James wonders, but it sounds like a good-natured teasing rather than a question.
“I can read, Potter,” Snape deadpans.
And only after he says it he realizes he could come off as rude, therefore ruin everything before he even had the chance to give this alternative a go. Severus freezes in the moment of silence, and then Sirius bursts out laughing, and James joins him right after.
“Okay, okay, I deserved it,” James agrees as he gently nuzzles his nose into the back of Severus’ neck, letting his hair tickle his face. “You are the genius here, I know.”
“I didn't - mean…” Severus tries, and only then realizes James took his remark for what it was. Friendly teasing, and nothing more. Calmed at his new friends’ approach, Severus allows himself to relax into their naked arms.
“We know,” Siri assures him. “You have a sharp tongue, we know that. But… you mean that they can't disinherit me by just… throwing me out?”
Severus finally realizes that his family wanted to spare him off his magic, his soul and his right to have children; of course they forbid him to ever come back to the main family houses. “No. They can… throw you out or block you from money, but the magic is still yours to carry.”
“Yeah now, what does that mean? Dad always says that the Potter magic is now mine to carry, but I have no idea what he means by that,” James chimes in.
Severus rolls his eyes. “Spoiled brats.”
The Gryffindors chuckle and agree with Severus, who can't stop the timid smile, as he actually tries to explain: “It means that when you come of legal age to claim the Wizengamot chair as Heir of your families, you are the Head of house. Technically, your fathers can withhold your claim of the seat, until you are married and have a magical child. That is the only way to stall you taking over the Family.”
“So the day I am 17, I can just come back home?”
“The wards of your family houses are always going to let you in. Your family, however, can throw you out, as there is no magical law that can penalize your family for not letting you live with them,” Severus recites.
It was an interesting conversation he had with Nott, after his Father wanted to disinherit him, only he didn't take such drastic measures as the Black family. Also, Nott isn't the Heir, that is his older sister.
“And also, the legal age for taking the Wizengamot seat is 21,” Snape ads as an afterthought.
“That’s mad,” Sirius chuckles. “My crazy mother thought she can disinherit me by simply striking me off her will.”
“Your father, you mean,” Severus interrupts him.
Black shakes his head. “No. My father… doesn't mind that much.”
“No, I mean, your mother has no right to disinherit you at all. She married into the Black family, did she not? Orion Black is the Heir.”
“Yeah,” James nods. “And she’s more into the all traditional fascist shit than every other pureblood I’ve ever met.”
“She could send the curse, of course, she’s your mother, but she can't ever strike you from her will, when everything she owns as a Black ties to the Black Heir,” Severus shrugs.
Sirius looks him dead in the eye, and then hysterically laugh. “This is fucking amazing!”
“So Siri can just walk in the Wizengamot by the age 21, married with a child, and there’s no way at all that could prevent him from taking the Family Seat?”
“And he’s also the only one… with the right to disinherit people from the family, after he turns 17.”
“What the fuck, wait,” Severus sits up in excitement, his pretty, brown eyes twinkling, “Does that mean that at seventeen, I can disinherit my mother ?!”
“Yes,” Severus nods in all seriousness, with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
James and Sirius stare at each other, mouth agape.
“You can disinherit anyone who isn't an Heir of Black, so everyone except your father and his mother, I believe, you understand what I mean.”
“And what… what happens?! If I just… walk in and disinherit her?”
“She’ll die of heart attack, I think,” James sneers and Sirius laughs out loud.
Severus has a suspicion Walburga isn't a nice witch.
“My mother is one of the people who say male pregnancy is an abomination, and she doesn't approve of homosexual couples in any form,” on Sirius handsome face looks the sneer scary, but not less attractive.
“Does that mean we are in search of a husband for you, Pads?” Potter laughs.
“I want to walk in the Wizengamot court with a child and my husband pregnant again,” Sirius nods. “I want her to see me kissing my husband, and showing him love and respect.”
Severus chuckles and Black looks at him, gives him a pretty smile, and hugs him and James very tightly. “I hope you’ll be a part of this all, yeah? Both of you.”
“Cheering for you from the first line,” James chuckles and kisses Siri’s forehead.
“Finally a good reason to explore my mild bisexual tendencies,” Sirius giggles.
“ …Mild ?” Severus raises his brows, which has James laugh hysterically.
“Hey…!”