Chapter Text
Why was there a rose on his bed?
For Severus Snape, the ugly, poor halfblood with a sour disposition to match, life was most unkind. Born to a drunk of a father and coward of a mother, he was a boy destined for a life of misery. Forever a victim. Never destined for the spotlight.
No really, why was there a rose on his bed?
If his mother was to be believed, Severus was in fact the grandson of Lord Prince. Had his grandfather given even the slightest shit about him, that might have meant something. But he didn’t, so it didn’t.
This was important to remember, because if his grandfather had acknowledged him, things would be very different for Severus. Almost absurdly so.
Seriously, where did it even come from?
With his many flaws and sullen personality, Severus knew he’d have a hard road ahead of him. A very hard road indeed. Typically, those in his position did one of three things: they cried a lot, they worked their fingers to the bone to be the best of the best, or they spread their legs in the hopes it would land them an indulgent sugar daddy with more money than sense. Obviously Severus had no intention of sleeping around. Nor did he intend to sob into his pillow like a hapless little orphan child. So, that only left hard work.
Maybe someone dropped it?
There was another option. But it was an option so impossible that Severus didn’t even bother to consider it. It never happened outside of silly romance stories. That option was a courtship, followed by marriage. Something so impossible it was almost laughable.
Or maybe it was a prank? Yeah, that sounded right.
A pureblood courtship was complex and almost always reserved for fellow purebloods only. To keep the bloodline pure so to speak. They were easy enough to spot, they all followed the same basic pattern. First, something beautiful was given. To show their intended that their beauty had caught their eye. Next, was something valuable. To show them that they had the resources to take care of them for years to come. Third, something personal. To show what they knew about them and explain why they had chosen them. Fourth, dinner with the family. If all four steps were completed successfully, the final gift would be something with the family crest. To show they were accepted into the family.
It was this that just so happened to pop into Severus’ head, as he continued to stare at the rose on his bed. First step, something beautiful. Roses were a classic choice. Everyone knew that. Even him.
He picked up the rose. With a sneer, he muttered an incendio under his breath, watching it crumple into ash. Then he dusted off his hands.
It was a prank, it had to be. He wasn’t being courted, that was utterly ridiculous. Absolutely absurd.
With a short huff, Severus grabbed his book he’d been looking for and headed out to the common room to join his friends. Avery and Mulciber were waiting for him to return and it would be wise to not make them wait any longer.
Bruce Mulciber nudged William Avery, Jr., as Severus finally re-entered the room. Snape stalked over to them, his expression absolutely livid. A stark contrast to the mask of indifference he’d worn when he was going to grab his book. With his tangled mass of greasy waves covering his black eyes and hanging limply in front of sallow skin, he looked half deranged.
“What did the book do to you?” Mulciber asked as Severus slammed it on the table.
“You ready?” Severus asked, completely ignoring his question.
The pair exchanged wary looks before agreeing. They didn’t even try to argue, knowing all too well how vicious Severus could be when provoked. Certainly not an easy opponent to have, but a valuable ally to keep on their side. Even if he was just a halfblood.
The next couple of hours were spent studying and completing the latest assignment Slughorn had assigned. After it was done, Mulciber groaned in relief while Avery slumped onto the table, barely able to keep his eyes open. Severus snapped his book shut then stood.
“Snape, sit down already.” Mulciber sighed, eyes still closed. “You’re going to make yourself sick again if you don’t rest.”
It was something that had happened before. So caught up in trying to be the best, Severus would neglect his own health until he inevitably collapsed. To his surprise, his roommates seemed oddly determined to keep him alive and well. Unusual given their vast differences in status. But somewhat understandable since it was thanks to his efforts that they were even passing potions in the first place
Severus huffed, but obeyed. Avery gave him an assessing look.
“Something happened, didn’t it?”
Severus stayed quiet.
“What?” Mulciber demanded to know. Purebloods rarely asked. They just demanded things.
Severus ignored them both.
“What’s that on your sleeve?” Avery happened to notice the ash and leaned forward to get a better look. Severus shoved both arms under the table, his sallow skin showing the faintest hint of pink. Both boys immediately honed in on it.
“It’s nothing,” Severus tried.
“Bullshit. What is it really?” Mulciber shot back.
Severus glared at him. He remained unfazed. It was a pretty regular occurrence after all.
“It’s nothing,” Severus repeated. His voice took on a distinctly sharper edge.
Mulciber scowled. Avery cocked his head, then sniffed.
“Smells sweet. Like roses.”
Severus flinched, before trying to cover it up with a sneer. “You’re delusional.”
The other two exchanged looks behind his back. Smelling like a rose was one thing. There could be a couple of reasons for it. Like a potions experiment gone wrong or a hex. But the expression on Snape’s face told them it was more than that. Much more. And while they weren’t exactly geniuses themselves, they could certainly connect the dots.
“Someone tried to court you?” Mulciber hissed.
Severus gave him an alarmed look, then frantically checked to see if anyone was listening. No one was looking their way, but that didn’t mean much. With a sharp jut of his chin, he motioned them to follow him. They followed immediately, not wanting to risk missing out on possibly the biggest bit of gossip their school had seen in years.
Only once they were in the dorm, curtains drawn and a silencing charm put up, did Severus finally dare to speak. Or rather, point at the scorch marks left on his bed from his attempt to remove all traces that the rose ever existed.
“What am I looking at?” Avery asked, squinting down at it. He sniffed once, then his eyes widened in alarm. “Snape, you didn’t.”
He bloody well did.
“Didn’t what?” Mulciber demanded.
Avery turned to him with a peculiar expression on his face. “The silly sod’s incinerated a courting gift.”
Mulciber’s mouth dropped open. Both boys turned to stare at him, utterly befuddled. Severus stared back, unflinching.
Minutes passed. Severus refused to crack.
“Sev…” Mulciber trailed off uncertainly. “Mate, this is…you’re in deep shit.” The use of his nickname was a very bad sign.
Like he didn’t already know that.
Severus scowled.
“Who the bloody hell would court you?” Avery added.
That was a good question. A very good question indeed. Severus was no prize, even if he was brilliant. He was ugly, poor and had a foul temper to boot. He didn’t have much backing either, save for a peculiar friendship with the Malloy heir. Something most still struggled to get their heads around.
So who the hell would want to court him?
Being courted meant someone was interested in him. That someone saw value in him. That…that was unexpected.
“If it was on your bed, they must have access,” Avery pointed out.
“A Slytherin?” Mulciber asked. Avery shrugged.
“I’m not being courted.” Severus glared at them both. They paused, blinked, then ignored him altogether much to Severus’ annoyance.
“Could be Regulus. Pretty sure he had a thing for him when he tutored him,” Avery suggested.
Severus nearly choked.
“Or someone from another house who bribed someone to sneak it in,” Bruce countered.
The idea was laughable.
“It’s not you, is it?” Avery chuckled. Mulciber whacked him with the nearby pillow. “Guess that’s a no.”
“It’s not you, is it?” Mulciber repeated back with a sneer. Avery just laughed.
“Snape’s too much for me to handle. I need someone who isn’t trying to start the next wizarding war, with those damn Gryffindors.”
All three pointedly ignored the war that was already hanging over their heads. A war they would all be drafted into, one way or another.
“Fuck off.” Severus ripped open the curtains, ready to storm off and find somewhere to sulk.
The two just laughed, each grabbing an arm and refusing to let him go until he stopped bristling like a feral cat.
“Cheer up, Sev. If someone is courting you, you can bleed them for every galleon they’re worth. Bet you’ll get plenty of those ingredients you’ve been looking for.” Avery grinned at him.
“And bragging rights for years to come. I mean whoever this nutjob is, they’re willing to put everything on the line for you,” Mulciber added.
Severus slumped forward, burying his face into his potions stained hands. He let out a low groan, ignoring their halfhearted attempts to unfurl him.
“Think we should ask around?”
Mulciber nodded. “Start with Wilkes and Rosier. See if they know something.”
“You can start with Rosier. I’ll handle Wilkes,” Avery countered.
Evan Rosier was known to be a bit much, even by pureblood standards. He had an unhingedness about him, possibly related to some unknown ailment that was known to plague his family’s bloodline. It meant he was quick to anger. Quick to violence. Good traits for a pureblood to have, just not if he was aiming them at you.
Mulciber rolled his eyes but didn’t protest. He was probably one of the few that didn’t fear Rosier, because he himself was even worse. Half the school walked on eggshells around him, praying he didn’t deign them important enough to hex or use as target practice.
Christopher Wilkes was by far the easiest of the two. A halfblood like Snape, he was quick with a wand but pleasant enough to be around. Provided they were on his side that is.
“Don’t worry your ugly little head Sev, we’ll sort it for you. What are mates for, yeah?” Mulciber chuckled, patting him on top of his head.
He snatched his hand back when Severus tried to bite him, grinning widely with a sharp glint in his eye. Their friendship was a strange one. Both dangerous young men and nearly impossible to tame. But Mulciber was oddly attached to the little gremlin he called a friend. After all, it was thanks to Snape that he learned so many interesting ways to torture people.
“Piss off,” Severus grumbled. Fingers tangled into the back of his head, wrenching his head back. He snarled, but stayed still.
Mulciber grinned down at him. “Careful there, Snape. Wouldn’t want to damage that ugly mug of yours now, would we? Clearly whoever’s courting you likes you as you are.”
A pillow smashed into him, sending Mulciber sprawling with a curse.
Severus snorted. “It’s a fucking prank, idiot.”
Avery just sighed, scooting back to avoid the onslaught of pillows. “Idiots.”
A couple of hours later, it was time for dinner. Wilkes and Rosier were already sat waiting for Severus, sidling up to him with huge grins on their faces. That was never a good sign.
“Is it true?”
“Was it real?”
“Did you really set it on fire?”
That last one resulted in a few mildly concerned looks being sent their way.
Severus ignored them completely. His eyes were already scanning the crowds, desperately seeking answers. Then he found what he was looking for. Or rather, who he was looking for.
Marauders. Gryffindors. The four shits who tried to make his life fucking miserable, every opportunity they could.
Lupin spotted him first. He nudged Pettigrew who in turn notified the other two. Potter and Black stopped, then stared straight at him. Black smirked.
“It was him.” Severus muttered to those sitting with him. “That piece of shit, I’ll kill him.”
The others exchanged looks.
“You think it was Black?” Rosier asked in disbelief.
“I know it was.” Severus replied, his eyes never leaving them.
“Black.” Wilkes repeated. “Sirius Black. Not…not Regulus?”
Severus snorted. “It’s a prank, obviously. Some sick joke.”
His friends gave him incredulous looks.
“Uh, Sev? Courtships are serious shit. Especially for purebloods. Not even Black would joke about something like that,” Avery pointed out.
Severus refused to believe it. “You sure about that?”
Honestly, no. They weren’t. Sirius Black had indeed tried to do anything and everything to renounce his pureblooded ways. But would he really stoop this low?
So focused was he on Black and his friends, Severus failed to notice how a hush descended over the hall. Like time had stopped. Every shut up, their eyes fixated on what was about to become the biggest scandal of the year.
Someone tapped his shoulder. Severus waved them off, refusing to look away. He was tapped again. Severus once again waved them away with a scowl. A laugh hastily covered by a cough, sounded somewhere behind him. He was tapped a third time.
“Merlin’s sake, what?” He hissed, whirling around.
He froze.
A rose was held out to him. Right there, in front of the entire school. A question that no one needed asking.
“Severus Snape.” A clear voice rang throughout the deathly quiet hall. “Will you do me the honour of letting me court you?”
Severus had no idea how to respond.