InsaneJournal

WHO: Regulus Black and Severus Snape
WHAT: A Christmas visit turns deadly.
WHEN: Christmas morning
WHERE: Severus’ flat.
RATING: PG [to be safe]
STATUS: Complete!
WARNINGS: Character death.

Although he wasn’t a festive person by nature, and although he didn’t - and hadn’t - have any family to celebrate Christmas with since before he was school age, Severus still had to appreciate the quiet that came with the holiday. At Hogwarts, the castle was mostly empty and, when he chose to return, his own home was always blessedly peaceful. Of course Severus wasn’t currently at home, or at the school he’d come to consider his home many years before, apparently the quiet still applied and for that he found himself extremely grateful.

It wasn’t that Severus was opposed to company. However, after sharing his flat with Remus Lupin for the last week or so, he was glad to have his space back to himself. He wasn’t opposed to visitors, although the only person he wanted to speak with was Regulus and he doubted that would happen, but at the moment he was very much enjoying a cup of tea as he thumbed through one of his many books and kept half an eye on the cauldron containing the potion he was currently brewing. His PDA was turned off and being ignored and a silencing charm, that was set only to alert him should someone knock on the door, was firmly in place.

The alert, as it turned out, was set just right as no sooner had Severus flicked his wand to cause the teapot to fill up his cup did the low hum reverberate through him. Rising to his feet, he cast a glance toward the space of wall beside his door. Severus was hardly James Potter’s biggest fan, as everyone was well aware, but even he had to admit that the charm the man had used to turn a wall see through on one side came in quite handy. Thanks to the charm in question, he now knew who was at his door beforehand with minimal effort and could then decide whether or not to answer it.

This time, it turned out to be Regulus. Torn between suspicion and shock, Severus hesitated for the briefest of instants. Then he decided it was best to get this out of the way now, rather than later, and made his way to the door. Opening it, he stared at the other wizard for a heartbeat, his expression wholly unreadable as he said simply, “Hello, Regulus. Do come in.”

After all, if the man was there to wreak his revenge, Severus would rather it happen now than later. Not that he thought that was the case - Regulus might have surprised him by showing up but he’d like to think he wouldn’t be so crass as to attempt retaliation in person on Christmas of all days. Then again, Severus was starting to realize that maybe there was more shock factor within the younger of the Black brothers than even he’d originally thought.

Regulus had debated whether or not to just get Severus something impersonal, commercial and wholly unremarkable for this Christmas season. Who would blame him? In the end he fell on ‘not’, stealing just one more gift wouldn’t be worth the trouble to deliver something unoriginal. If he was going to get the man something, he was going to get something. Of course, not getting him anything at all had also crossed Regulus’ mind and he was almost still too put out about That Sunday to do just that; but, in the end Regulus realized there was something Severus had never been given in all his life that Regulus could, even if a bit begrudgingly.

However, Regulus would want it to be noted that this wasn’t to be an indication Severus was off the hook for That Sunday, retribution was something far removed from gratitude and friendship. Or at least it was in Regulus’ meticulously compartmentalized mind.

Regulus smirked at the bland greeting Severus offered. The older man’s face was blank and unreadable but Regulus wasn’t an idiot. They had not spoken once since That Sunday and with no forewarning of his arrival this had to be at least a mild shock. Maybe even an amusing shock, Severus, Regulus reasoned, had to be wondering if the younger Black brother was there for revenge.

“Ecstatic to see me, as always, Severus,” he replied, mouth quirking a bit of a smile, not bothering to hide his uncharacteristic joy. Well, joy might be a bit beyond what Regulus was feeling, but he wasn’t his usual quiet, doleful self.

“Enjoying your Christmas morning, just like any other?” Regulus said as he stepped through the door surveying the orderly flat of his friend.

Severus Snape was many things but an idiot wasn’t one of them. While he didn’t know exactly why Regulus was there, and wanted to think that it wasn’t to seek revenge for having been locked up in a room with his brother, Severus did know that the man hadn’t come all the way over just for idle chitchat. Particularly considering they hadn’t spoken since the incident regarding Regulus’ brother and especially considering there were quite likely a number of individuals Regulus could instead be visiting if casual conversation were his intention.

Not that there was such a thing as true casual conversation when it came to Slytherins, of course.

Unfortunately, knowing why Regulus wasn’t there didn’t tell him why he was there. That was apparently something that would only come out once the formalities were out of the way. Not that Severus was surprised as much. Regulus always had been rather good at playing his cards close to the vest. The means of his death, and mystery surrounding it for so many years, certainly proved that beyond any doubt. In fact it was an area of expertise that Severus could relate with the man on and, under any other circumstances, would have gladly done so. Now, though, he found himself irrationally (or perhaps rationally as he was dealing with a fully trained former Death Eater with a justifiable reason to want revenge) annoyed at not being able to guess at the reason for the visit.

Determined to find out, even if it meant seeing the conversation through, he finally commented with, “Yes, I’m enjoying the morning even with the unexpected visit taken into consideration.” It was a backhanded way of saying he was glad to see his friend, if a bit wary, and was the closest Severus would probably ever get to saying it in so many words. Once spoken, he shut the door then turned to look at the other wizard. His dark eyes studied Regulus closely, thin lips pulled downward into a displeased frown but rather a contemplative one.

“What brings you here, Regulus?” he finally asked. Sometimes - only in certain circumstances - the most direct route really was the best one to take.

“Oh stop it, you know you like me and my brightly beaming countenance warms the cockles of your heart.” Said with the right tone, one Regulus liberally employed, that was as much mocking as it was sincere. As much as the act of capturing and imprisoning him had rankled every nerve Regulus was astute enough to know Severus genuinely thought it was for the best. The best for everyone trapped within the greater city perhaps, but greater included Regulus, and that proved Severus cared, if not readily discernible, about him.

But that didn’t mean the older man would bandy about flowery sonnets on the subject… or even beat around the bush with pleasantries. Though, Regulus was quick to recognize this was not a dismissive act, not a ‘ya, what do you want, now get out’ response, but more an investigation, the results off which Severus would base his next move. The man was wondering if this was a possible revenge mission. Regulus couldn’t help but smirk more.

And couldn’t help but delay the conversation further by finding himself a seat. If Severus wasn’t going to offer they were comfortable enough that Regulus felt no compunction at breaking etiquette.

“Really?” he finally said after situating himself next to the work station and taking a moment to amuse himself with fingering the edge of a cutting board, rather arrogantly as was his style. He knew it would be sufficiently irritating to skirt on the edge of messing about with the system Severus has set up without crossing too many lines. And honestly, if Severus didn’t want Regulus doing this he would have offered him a seat far, far way from the station. “You think not one person here cares about you on Christmas morning?”

If Regulus’ words hadn’t already told Severus that this was not going to be an easily forthcoming conversation, his actions more than confirmed it. If Regulus wanted to simply say what he’d come to say, or do what he’d come to do, he would have done so immediately. Instead he was apparently going to drag it out for a bit longer. It certainly served to rankle Severus a bit but he refused to allow it to show. Instead he simply retook his own seat by the work station, positioned so he could keep an eye on the other wizard, as well as all of his potions ingredients and equipment.

“Would you care for some tea?” he questioned before responding to what had been said. Long fingers wrapped around his own cup as he lifted it to his lips and took a sip all while studying Regulus over the rim. Once he’d set the cup back down, he steepled his fingers in a purposefully calm motion and finally replied to the albeit slightly sarcastic question Regulus had asked.

“I think,” he answered slowly, “that I know for a fact you vowed the destruction of my laboratory as well as many other rather...” His lips twitched a bit in the vaguest of amusement. “Colourful ways in which you would seek your vengeance upon me for my actions. I also know for a fact that you have not spoken to me, nor made any effort to do so, since the incident. Therefore I think I would be a fool not to question your reasons for being here now, a fact which you are well aware and utilizing to the furthest extent of your abilities.”

He took another calm sip of his tea before finishing with, “So the question is not whether or not I think someone cares enough to visit on Christmas but rather why I think you are here. Which I feel confident in stating is likely not merely for a social call.” One eyebrow arched ever so slightly toward his hairline and something more might have been said on the subject if not for a sudden crash, then scream, coming from outside.

Realizing he’d forgotten to replace the silencing charms around his flat after letting Regulus inside, he waved his hand in the direction of the walls to do just that. The last thing he wanted was for them to be interrupted by some sort of ridiculous Muggle altercation in the streets.

Regulus accepted the tea and sipped from the cup one handed while still touching the edge of the cutting board. When his initial foray into bothering his friend hadn’t resulted in irking him he would just have to try harder. His finger jumped from the edge of the board to the knife handle not more than an inch away.

“That hurts coming from a man who locked me in a room with my brother and claimed it was because he cared,” Regulus scoffed incredulously. “People say lots of things under duress, but that hardly means I don’t care.” Clearly they needed to work on their definitions of ‘caring’.

Regulus turned his head towards the window at the sounds coming from without but shrugged it off when Severus replaced the charm. He then set the tea cup down on the table and started tracing the rim, thoughts of pushing the limits of Severus’ patience gone and replaced by those on how to bring up what he wanted to say. But clearly, considering how this conversation started, the most obvious answer was to be as straight forward as possible.

“Thank you,” he said after a few more swirls around the rim of the cup, “Severus, for doing that.” His voice had changed, all sincerity now, not a trace of sarcasm. And the look he gave Severus was earnest and open, something Regulus almost never showed anyone.

Severus had ignored the touch to his cutting board because he had known Regulus was merely looking for a reaction. He had spent enough time dealing with the children at Hogwarts during his tenure to know that the worst thing one could do in that situation was to react to what was clearly an effort to annoy him. However, when the touching spread out to include his knife, Severus wasn’t certain how much more he could take before commenting. His lips pressed together in a thin line and he had to drag his gaze away from the offending hand back to the man responsible for it.

Then Regulus finally got to the reason for his visit and, much like flipping a switch, Severus’ irritation evaporated and was replaced with nothing but pure, unadulterated shock.

Two wars and a lifetime of deceit. The constant risk of his own life merely to gleam information that may or may not be of use. Being forced to murder the one man he’d always respected solely to keep up a cover he loathed to begin with. The protection of a boy who was a constant reminder of his own loss. The protection of an entire school of children while having to pose as the Dark Lord’s most loyal. The giving of his own life due to following a plan that he had known, even if he hadn’t been told, would lead to his eventual demise. Severus had done all of those things, every last one, and many more on top of them.

And yet never, not even once, had anyone thanked him.

He hadn’t done it for thanks, of course. He had done it out of guilt he couldn’t hope to escape that had haunted him every waking moment of every day. He had done it because it had to be done and he was the only one who could. He hadn’t expected any gratitude for his part and had taken the hatred and mistrust in stride, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t have been appreciated. Or, at least, that’s what he had always thought. Now that he was actually being thanked for something he’d done, Severus realized distantly that he had no concept of how to respond.

He knew he had to say something. He could hardly just sit there, looking much like a Slytherin version of a caught fish (which, consequentially, involves a great deal of simply staring and not quite so much blinking or silent working of the jaw), for the rest of time. No, he had to speak up and he needed to do so sooner rather than later. Yet no words were coming; the thank you was still too busy reverberating through his mind. Finally, though, he went with the most obvious of replies in the hope that his mind would catch up once the words left his mouth.

“You’re welcome, Regulus.”

Sure enough, a veritable speech popped into his head the moment he’d uttered the other wizard’s name. Unfortunately, before he could even begin to say it out loud, the sound of breaking glass echoed through the room. An instant later there was a high-pitched hum that caused the man to surge to his feet, wand in hand, just in time to see three objects that almost looked like oversized, oddly-shaped Quaffles, float into the room and begin to hover in midair as though they’d every right to be there.

Ah, the thin pursed line of someone’s lips, clear indication of irritation. Regulus felt accomplished, really. And he wouldn’t try to push the boundaries further in that meeting. More next time though.

He opened his mouth to accept Severus’ acceptance when the sound of breaking glass shattering on the floor wretch his attention around. Well that was odd. Regulus’ first thought was these were some kind of prank from Sirius, a repayment for That Sunday. But no, they were in on that together, Sirius would have told him. Plus, there was something about the way they just floated there, motionless, they were eerie.

Regulus was on his feet, a moment after Severus, wand drawn, too. Something wasn’t right about this, and the thought occurred to him that maybe they should just leave before things got really wrong, but again, they were just floating there doing nothing else and the thought remained unvoiced.

The thought of leaving flickered, briefly, through Severus’ mind. He was a Slytherin at heart, after all, and very happily subscribed to the belief of retreating in the face of the unknown and quite likely deadly. However he shoved the thought away for the moment, both mildly curious as to just what the things were and also acknowledging the very real possibility that, should he and Regulus attempt to leave, it would simply make matters worse. So he stayed put, silent and on edge, a wizard who had spent more of his life at war than in peace and who understood all too easily how quickly a situation could go from seemingly calm and serene to deadly.

The stalemate might have continued for quite some time, with neither side showing their hand to the other, but eventually one of the hovering balls spoke. The voice was high-pitched and childlike and immediately put every sense Severus had on full alert.

“You don’t have to be afraid...” the voice that came from what appeared to be a piece of floating, ball-shaped metal said lightly, “we just want to play!”

“Who are you?” Severus replied evenly. “Where did you come from?” He avoided asking what they meant by play. Something told him he wouldn’t like the answer. Instead he simply stood his ground, wand still gripped firmly in his hand, and added, “You were not invited here. You should leave.”

For the briefest of seconds, it seemed as though they might listen. One even made its way back to the shattered window. However then something slid out from within the sphere and, although Severus had never seen anything like it, he knew without a doubt it was dangerous. It was deadly. A fact proven true as the high-pitched humming grew louder and the tip of the whatever-it-was began to vibrate slightly.

A gun. That was all Severus could think. The Muggle equivalent of a wand, capable of being wielded by any with the ability to aim and pull with one finger. Granted these had no triggers he could see, no means of making the device fire, but he knew that’s what it was. It was a gun... and he and Regulus were about to be attacked with it.

Without thinking, in a move that was hardly Slytherin in nature yet still well within his own, often hidden, positive personality traits, Severus said sharply, “Regulus, go.” At the same moment, he stepped in front of his friend and raised his wand. He silently cast a blasting curse of his own design. One of the balls slammed through the wall. The other shook a bit in place. The third simply fired its weapon.

And a heartbeat later there was nothing left of Severus Snape but a pile of ashes slowly, silently, fluttering their way to the ground.

It all happened in an instant. But every detail played back in the slowest of time. Those things weren’t leaving. Regulus knew that was a gun, Juno had shown him enough movies and had answered enough of his incessant questions that he recognized the barrel-shaped thing pointing at him. That spell Severus used, Regulus recognized it from past experiences as a Death Eater, it should have had more of an affect. It should have done more!

And Regulus, in all that, had not gone with his gut instinct to just reach out and grab a hold of Severus and leave.

And now Severus was… ash.

And, this was no time to stand around being stunned. On instinct alone, because clearly that was better than anything else right at that moment, Regulus threw up a shield before apparating back to his flat. There he could formulate… gods, something, anything, his thoughts were still back in his friends flat, watching ash drift to the ground.