Before the end of the term, Dumbledore had approached (y/n) about riding the train as a chaperone to which she agreed with a stiff nod and the bitter taste of Wolfsbane Potion sliding on her tongue. Joan was excited by this information and Ceres who had taken to looking at books about trains gave her mother a look that said, 'I'm staying with you.' Severus nodded his understanding, a little bit sad that his time with her would be cut short this summer.
During the first week of June, they had done a picnic date at Spinner's End. They were under a tree that (y/n) distinctly remembers Lily having a picture of, it felt like he was opening up a space for her in his happiest memories and that made a bubble of warmth flood her heart at the notion. It was probably just that this place had a nicer air than his house and he wanted to give her a good impression during their first official date, or maybe he didn't want her to feel pressured by being in his space. Either way, they were comfortable with each other to the point that really all that had changed was how close they allowed themselves to be. Occasionally, the couple relaxed before the fire on one of the couches at Grimmauld Place each with a book in hand as they traded off who gets to lay on who's lap, each reveling in the intimacy they've built.
The man breathed a sigh as he took in this moment next to the young woman who had wriggled her way into his heart without his knowing. He looked over at the subject of his romantic (and carnal) desires and watched as she watched the sky, a simple and contently bittersweet smile on her lips. He figured it had to do with her past suffering and what she had warned him of. A twang of heartache shot through the depths of his heart at the thought of her being harmed once again and this time despite his knowledge of this coming storm he hadn't a safe haven to give her. He couldn't give her the clear skies she would thrive in.
A crack broke Severus's thoughts.
"Kreacher is sorry for intruding. Kreacher came to tell Miss Black that the children have fallen ill and have taken to nibbling on the Mistress' portrait." that damned house-elf interrupted a perfectly good moment.
(y/n) turned her gaze back to the earth with a groan and pressed a kiss to the potion master's cheek.
"Duty calls, my love." She sighed.
"What happened to Joan and Rifton?" Severus asked wanting to at least snog (y/n) breathless before she goes.
"They've been locked in a cupboard." Kreacher answered with a huff.
And there went the snogging.
"I'll go with you." Severus sighed in acceptance of this ruined date.
On the final Saturday of June, they were having a late night in as they read when the door was knocked on.
It was an Auror coming to check the house or Sirius, effectively waking up everyone in the house and ruining the calm atmosphere of the evening.
On the second Thursday in July, a trip to the ice cream parlor was interrupted by a fire in the shop.
On the fourth Wednesday of July, a day of recreational book shopping was interrupted by Rita Skeeter asking if (y/n) was harboring Sirius.
Their last date was interrupted by an owl telling Severus that he was needed sooner than usual.
It would seem that the universe doesn't want them to have a decent time together just yet.
(y/n) sat at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee while she thought over the past summer when the twins walked in followed by Joan carrying a bag full of supplies and Rifton dragging a dog crate.
"Mommy, we found someone we want to keep." Reggie ran to her side followed closely by Ceres who was designated to give her the puppy dog eyes.
"This dog just followed us through the gate from Diagon Alley, so Reg thought we should keep him." Joan huffed.
"He has fleas doesn't he?" (y/n) sighed.
"He seemed uncomfy," Ceres said making her eyes look impossibly bigger.
"Fine, I'll bathe him though. You got the flea shampoo and the treatment or it?" She held her hand out for the bag taking it and levitating the travel crate and pushing it to the bathroom.
She shut the door and cast a soundproofing charm over the room before sending a glare at the black dog in the crate.
"Sirius," that earned a yip from the dog. "You will bathe in your human shape after I rid you of fleas."
He whimpered and gave her a begging look.
"So you want to keep the fleas as a reminder to listen to me?" She quirked her brow.
He growled at the thought of that.
"While you are getting the years of gunk cleaned off of you, we are going to establish some ground rules where my children are concerned."
He tilted his head and pawed at the door of the crate.
"Right, you've spent enough time behind bars." (y/n) sighed as she bent down and opened the door. "We can talk while I draw the bathwater."
Sirius shifted and stood awkwardly off to the side as she got the bath ready.
"You gonna talk or are you going to stare at me like I'm in a zoo?"
"I'm sorry." He was quiet as he spoke. "Who- who's their father?"
"Joan is a third-year that I adopted with the help of the WPS. And the twins' father is dead."
"Dead?"
"He hurt Ceres, and I lost my shit and ripped him to shreds before Regulus would be hurt." That earned a moment of silence.
"What are their full names?"
"Ceres Lily Black is the oldest of the two. And Regulus Severus Black is-" She was cut off by Sirius.
"Snivelus is their father?!"
"Not yet. He will be though."
"Is this all time-turner shenanigans?"
"That would be our cousin next year. This is one of the issues of not being allowed the privilege of ignorance on my part."
"But Snivelus?! He was your teacher, this can't be legal."
"I've been out of school long enough to derail that line of thinking. Besides, it's kinda predestined."
"What do you mean?"
"The exact kind of animagus I am has a predetermined life partner."
"You're an animagus?"
"So are the twins, they also spent their early years in a cage in a room full of snakes so their first language isn't English."
"How does that work?"
"How many witches do you know that was forced to carry to term in a cage far too small for a human?"
"Good point." He sighed.
By this point, the water was drawn and she motioned for him to shift back so she could get him flea free earning a grumble as he did as asked and stood in the water while giving her a side-eye.
"Drama queen." She muttered as she cleaned her cousin completely then dried him and put the flea repellant through his fur.
Once she was done she eyed her handiwork and nodded in acceptance of her work.
"Too bad we didn't have enough time for a haircut ey Paddikins?"
The door burst open to reveal the children piled on top of one another.
"I like Paddy, it's good." Ceres hummed getting up from under her brother and padding up to the dog that seemed to sit up straighter and tried to look more dignified, despite his tail wagging like there was no tomorrow and whispered loud enough for him to hear. "Reggie and I know."
That earned a suspicious glance that was hidden by a tilt of his head.
"I'm glad that they took more after me." (y/n) sighed looking over at Joan who was confused. "Their genetic donor was a daft fool, would've named him something like Sirius."
That earned a displeased huff from the dog.
"Paddy is a great name, deal with it." Reggie sent a look to the dog.
"I feel like we're bullying him," Joan muttered.
YOU ARE READING
Professor Black: A Reader Insert
Fanfiction(y/n) Lucius Black has returned to the UK's corner of the Wizarding World from America, more permanently now as Dumbledore has asked the youngest graduate of Hogwarts to work. Will the events of the past decade catch up to her? Will her parents dec...
