"Must be my brother," Al guessed, "he is good at making people agreeable."
He rested his hand on the back of Severus' neck and scratched idly, noticing the relaxation of Severus' formerly-tense limbs, the way his breathing slowed and evened out, the way his sprawled out body was warm and heavy.
"You don't have to persuade my mother, you are not marrying her," Al murmured. "But thank you for trying."
It was some time later when he added softly against the warm twist of hair. "I learned today that you're stunning. But I already suspected that."