RP: I Have Made My Decision Who: Severus Snape & Faustus Stirling Where: Faustus' home in Hogsmeade When: 11 November 2024, early afternoon Warning/Rating: PG Summary: Severus has made a decision. Status: Complete
Severus liked to give the impression that he was ignoring things that he ostensibly didn’t like or didn’t approve of. He knew it frustrated people and if he took the right attitude then they tended to give up and leave him be. That then left him free to contemplate things in his own time and in his own way.
This was precisely the route he’d taken with his son, especially after that semi-disastrous, semi-successful meeting at Spinner’s End. While he would rather not have had things forced like that, the meeting had been useful. He had seen his son and had gotten at least a small measure of who he was. The wards had been interesting as well. There was no chance of denying his paternity after that. Blood wards did not lie.
He had been telling the truth though when he’d said he needed time to separate Faustus from his mother. That was important because he could cheerfully throttle Isabella Stirling and he did not wish to transfer that to Faustus. He knew he would if he didn’t have a chance to sort things out in his own mind. Look at what he’d done with Potter as an example. Yes, there had been good reason for that but he had been incredibly cruel and he knew it. He just didn’t care that much about it.
But he had things sorted now, which was why he was walking up to the door of the house his son lived in and knocking. It had been easy enough to find out where Faustus lived, that was simply a matter of setting a man to watch in Hogsmeade then follow him. Finding out when he was off shift had been a little more difficult. He could have just asked but he liked exercising old skills and keep his contacts just a little off guard.
He arched an eyebrow when the door opened to reveal his son slouching against the door frame in little more than a pair of pyjama pants that were practically falling off his hips, tousled hair and a sleepy expression.
“Yup?” Faustus said before registering who it was at his door. His eyes widened and for a moment he was lost for words before quickly stood up straight and ran a hand through his hair. “Uh... hi. Uh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting... it’s my day off and I... um.” He stopped and drew in a deep breath. “Um, would you like to come inside?”
“Yes,” Severus said with outward calm but inward amusement as he stepped inside. “I wished to speak with you.”
Faustus looked slightly sick for a moment before he managed to hide the expression. “Um, okay. I’ll just... go get dressed. The, uh, the living room’s just through there. Make yourself at home.”
Severus watched as Faustus disappeared into the house and walked into the living room. He smirked slightly when he saw it. It definitely looked like a single male lived here. It wasn’t a mess but it did show the signs of the masculine idea of tidy. In fact it looked much like his own home had looked when he was Faustus’ age.
He sat down in one of the armchairs and waited patiently for Faustus to return.
To say Faustus was flustered was an understatement. He knew he was letting his Slytherin roots down by being so obviously caught out but hell, it was his day off. He’d been practicing his lazy and had been strongly considering finding some porn and having a wank and having his father interrupt that thought before he could decide whether or not it was a good idea was… well, it made him feel like he was fifteen again. He supposed the only thing that could have been worse was if he’d been in the middle of having a wank.
He quickly pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and ran a comb through his hair before heading back out to the living room. That sense of being fifteen again was strengthened when he walked into the living room and saw the way his father was sitting. He had to forcibly remind himself that his father was only about ten years or so his senior and he wasn’t fifteen anymore.
He sat down on the couch and looked down at his bare feet for a moment before looking back at his father. “Um.”
“I would be pleased... and proud... if the world were to know you are my son,” Severus said without preamble.
Faustus stared at him, unable just for a moment to process what had just been said, then he broke out into a broad, happy grin. “You would?”
Severus relaxed a little and gave a small, wry smile. “I would.”
Faustus laughed and wondered what had changed his father’s mind... or if anything had... or if he’d just really needed the time. Whatever the answer was, he didn’t care. He just had two questions.
“Would... would you mind if I... took your surname?” he asked then he smiled wryly as well and rubbed the back of his neck. “And... what should I call you? I don’t know what you’re comfortable with.”
Severus paused for a moment then snorted. “I believe that a son traditionally uses Father or Dad to refer to his father,” he said with dry humour. “You may use whichever you’re comfortable with.” He sobered almost immediately. “While I would... very much like you to use my surname, be aware that you will gain enemies if you do so.”
Faustus nodded grimly. “I know, Dad. It’s... well, it’s something I’ve already thought about. I’m prepared. This place is warded pretty heavily and I’ll increase the wards as soon as possible. But I want to use your name.”
“There will be questions.”
Faustus shrugged and smirked, an expression that got an amused look from Severus since he knew where it had come from. “Let them ask. It’s none of their business.”
Severus arched an eyebrow and let that amused look stay on his face. “A son to be proud of,” he drawled.
Faustus raised his chin and echoed his Dad’s expression. “Like father, like son.”