Disarm the tongue of its dagger and listen
-Jewel "Compass" A Night Without Armor
He wouldn’t admit it, but there were days he actually looked forward to coming to twelve Grimmauld Place, despite the fact that Black was there. Of course it all had to do with a certain person who’d assault him with handshakes and a barrage of questions the second he walked in the door, oblivious to the astonished faces of his family and friends. Willingly engaging Severus Snape in conversation was not anyone’s idea of a smart move.
When he first saw him that summer, it came as much of a shock. He was no longer the seventeen-year-old boy who sat in the back of his potions class quietly brewing whatever concoction he had set them to. He was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, tan from the Egyptian sun, intelligent and unlike other members of the Weasley clan, able to hold a decent conversation. In fact they were more than decent. They were intriguing, so much so, there were days he actually thought of staying for dinner just so he could hear him talk. He was sure everyone would have insisted he check into St. Mungo’s if he had. After all, he was a cold heartless bastard who cared about no one and nothing. Little did they know the mass of emotion this one person could evoke from him.
So instead of sitting down to one of Molly’s home cooked meals, he’d saunter out into the hallway and stop for a moment to listen for that voice, resisting the urge to run back inside and say he changed his mind.
But this time he lingered too long. Caught up in his own perverted thoughts he was oblivious to the door swinging open until he came bustling out. The man stopped when he saw him, confusion flitting across his face, which was quickly replaced with a smile.
“Severus, I thought you had left. Why don’t you come have dinner with us? Mum’s cooked up some good food. It’s delicious.” He smiled so brightly it was almost intoxicating.
“I don’t think so. I’ve got some business to attend to. If you’ll excuse me.” With his usual dramatic flair, he turned and started for the stairs, but a hand on his arm stopped him.
“Severus, please wait.” It was an almost desperate plea and he turned instantly. “Will you be back tomorrow? I’ve got that mission for Dumbledore and . . . well . . . tomorrow will be the last night I get to spend with all my loved ones. I’d really like it if you came.” There was an anxious look in his eyes, like he wasn’t sure he should have said it in the first place.
His loved ones? Did that mean. . .was he saying what he thought?
“I don’t think I’ll be able to.” It was cold and harsh and not at all what he wanted to say, but there were appearances to be kept. He couldn’t disappoint, despite how he really felt.
He saw the disappointment flash across the younger man’s face.
“Oh. Okay. Just thought I’d ask. Well, goodnight, Severus.”
He turned to leave and his desire took a hold of him and before he knew it he was grabbing the other man from behind. Severus ran a finger down the shell of the other man’s ear to the fang that hung from his lobe, body pressed up against the younger man’s back.
“I don’t know why Molly makes such a big fuss over it. I like it,” He whispered into the smaller man’s ear. “Be careful.” He tucked a strand of that hideous red hair behind his ear before disappearing up the stairs, leaving a shocked but smiling Bill Weasley in his wake.