Chapter 1
"You did WHAT?" The young man's yell resounded throughout the entire house. Next door the neighbours flinched and wondered what Mr Potter had just told his son. The London town house began to shake with the rage of the young man within it.
James Potter was smart enough to move out of reach of his now-livid son before he repeated his comment. "I have arranged a marriage for you."
Harry Potter emerald eyes blazed in anger. 'Married!' He began to pace restlessly. Walking to the lit fireplace then back to the desk in the library slowly, he managed to get control of his temper before he blew something up. His raw magic was especially powerful when he was upset and he was certainly upset at the moment. "What makes you think you have the right to betroth me?" Harry asked in a low voice.
The older man gulped. Then he regained his equilibrium and stood up behind his desk, shouting at his son, "Because I am your father. You are twenty-six years old, Harry. Most men your age already have spouses and children." He, himself, had been married at age twenty and it hadn't done him any harm.
"I haven't met the right person yet." Harry declared. A horrible thought occurred to him, "Father, please tell me my intended is male?" 'If it's not a man I'll run away, family and honour be damned. There is no way I'm getting hitched to a broad!' He froze in anticipation of the answer.
James Potter rolled his eyes in irritation at his son, "Of course it is a male, Harry," Feeling more secure in his position now James sat back down. "Your mother and I are well aware of your preferences. I have been in negotiations with Mr Snape for some time now and it has been agreed that you and his youngest son will be married before the year is ended." It had taken very careful negotiations on both sides, the dowry, where the couple would live; everything had been taken into consideration. Harry was lucky that he would not have to sort out all these details for himself. If only his son would see it that way too.
Harry's mind boggled. It was late August already! That meant he was going to be married in the next four months. "Has a date been set?" He spat. How dare his father take over his life like this? He knew, and understood, that it was his duty as only son to James Potter of Derbyshire that he had to marry and continue the bloodline, upholding the Potter name, but to have all choice taken away from him in one fell swoop was unbearable. What if he could not stand the man? What if the man couldn't stand him? He would be miserable for the rest of his life with no solace, no way out? And heirs would be expected!
"Sometime in December. We have agreed on a conditional date for the 15th." Once again James awaited the expected explosion from his son but Harry surprised him. He didn't get angry; he just nodded curtly and walked out. He didn't even slam the door. The house stopped shaking. Obviously Harry had been working on his control. That was good, once, during his teenage years, he had almost destroyed an entire room in a bought of anger. James had long forgotten the cause but the scorch marks were still visible behind the bookshelf and some of the books were burnt on the edges.
Shaking his head in mild confusion, James decided to go tell his wife how their son had taken the news. He found her in the drawing room with her needlepoint. She had charmed the piano to play her favourite pieces and was softly humming along.
"Well he took it better than I expected at least. He certainly inherited my temper and, luckily, my common sense on when not to let it overtake you." Lily Potter nee Evans commented with a sigh. She didn't want her beloved son to leave her but she desperately wanted grandchildren and Harry wasn't likely to give her those anytime soon without definite encouragement. Honestly, the boy was incorrigible.
She was pretty sure that Harry wasn't inexperienced but he had yet to commit to someone. He was twenty-six, of course that was still quite young, wizarding middle age was about sixty-five but it was customary to marry young. All of Harry's friends were married by now; he was the only single one left. People were beginning to comment on it. Ronald Weasley had married Hermione Granger five years earlier, a love match, not surprising anyone. The two had been smitten with each other since they first met eight years ago but Ron had been studying for his law degree at the time and could not support a wife financially. Harry's other close friends had all married even earlier. Dean Thomas had married childhood sweetheart Seamus Finnegan six years ago. Neville Longbottom had become engaged and soon after married Luna Lovegood eight years ago and Draco Malfoy had entered into a betrothal with Geneva, Ginny, Weasley over nine years previously though they had only been married six years. All the other Weasleys, there were seven children in all, were married also. The family was a very large one, unfortunately their income was not quite as large but that had never stopped them. They were lovely people, though without the magic that marked people as upper class, bluebloods, as they were nicknamed. The younger Weasleys all had good jobs and were more than capable of providing for their family.
"When is he to meet his future husband?" The beautiful redhead asked her own husband curiously. She too was curious to meet the young man her son was to marry.
"In two days. I have invited them to dinner." James Potter replied.
Lily smiled painfully, "Let the games begin." She announced.
James returned to his study and sat down heavily. He did not want to force his only son into matrimony but an alliance between their families would be most beneficial, to both parties. Mr Snape was a wealthy gentleman, though perhaps not quite as rich as James himself, but without many of the necessary contacts needed in town, which James possessed.
He had not heard all that much about the youngest Snape son; only rumours that he was…difficult and rather reclusive. James was confident that Master Snape and his son would get on; after all, Harry could be incredibly stubborn on occasion and was generally very agreeable. His son had many people trying to 'catch' him, both for his looks and his money. The youngest Potter had ten thousand a year and upon the death of his parents, Merlin forbid, that would increase.
Two days later Harold James Potter was to be found in his room pacing from the window to the door and then back to the window. He didn't seen the stunning view from his window or see just how close he was to colliding with the hard unforgiving wood of the door, he was so caught up in his thoughts. He did not want to meet this Mr Snape's son! He wanted to be a bachelor! He wasn't ready to marry anyone and certainly not someone he had never met before. 'Oh gods, what if I ruin his life? He is being forced into this too…I guess we'll just have to make the best of it.' He finally decided. 'Please let me at least be able to respect my partner in life.' A marriage, in which either partner can not love or respect the other, can not be agreeable. Of that he had seen much proof over the years. His Aunt Petunia and her husband Vernon Dursley could not stand each other, the only thing they both loved was their only son Dudley, a rather stout young man though Harry got on with him well enough if they had to. His aunt had been married off at age sixteen to a much older man. Her father had not been able to refuse Dursley's suit as at the time the family had been in an uncomfortable position.
Now he had his mind set on tackling this problem head on and making the best of the situation Harry found the strength to leave his room. Just in time too because as he reached the parlour the maid, Lavender, came in and announced the arrival of Mr Snape, Mrs Snape and their son, Master Snape.
Harry steeled himself and rose out of his seat, followed by his mother and father, ready to greet the Snapes.
Mr Snape entered first, followed by his wife and finally their son behind them. Harry looked at each of the family members curiously; after all, they were soon to be his family too.
Mr Snape was a very tall man. He had dark hair tied back in a neat ponytail as was currently fashionable and what could only politely be called a Roman nose. His face wasn't a particularly nice one, he definitely looked his age which was close to seventy and the features were quite harsh. This did not look to be a man who would tolerate mistakes easily.
Mrs Snape was much shorter, and younger, than her husband with blond hair and very dark brown eyes. She looked frail, as though all life had been drained from her. Her appearance was pleasing but not beautiful.
Her son, on the other hand, was almost as tall as his father. He had the same dark hair, tied back with a leather strap, but he had his mother's eyes, though they were a few shades darker, making them appear to be almost black. The same features that made his father's face harsh made his pleasing by their delicate look. His face was young, Harry knew from his enquiries around town that the youngest Mr Snape was not often in company and had a certain reputation for having a sharp tongue. He had a guarded look upon his face as he looked at the Potters. His eyes made contact with Harry's for a split second before Mr Snape directed his gaze to the floor demurely.
'Well, at least he is not ugly.' Harry thought as Mr Snape continued to stare at the floor. 'I still don't know his first name!' He realised. Harry would have to correct this serious oversight very soon, he was engaged to a person, and he should at least know their name even if he would never use it. After all, many people, not in love matches, called each other by their surnames. Draco's parents, Harry knew, called each other Mr Malfoy and Mrs Malfoy which Harry found rather odd. His parents called each other James and Lily but then Harry knew that love had developed between them after their marriage, his mother had been unable to stand his father during their courtship and for the first year of marriage. It was only his care of her whilst she had been sick that had changed her mind about the arrogant braggart. Luckily, age, and Lily Potter, had made James Potter a true gentleman.
James Potter stepped forward, "Mr Snape, so good to see you again. I trust you and your family are well?"
"Very well, thank you. I can see that yours are." Mr Snape replied curtly with a short nod.
"Indeed. May I introduce my wife, Lily and our son, Harold." James held out his hand towards his family.
Lily curtsied and Harry bowed to the Snapes who alternately bowed or curtsied back. Harry's eyes still had not left the younger Mr Snape for more than a few seconds, he wanted to catch his eye and perhaps begin a conversation with him, after all, they were to be married within the year. Harry was determined to become friends with this young man and if Harry was anything it was stubborn.
They all took seats and sat in silence for a few minutes after all the social pleasantries of the guests admiring the furniture, the house and the setting, no one able to think of something to say. Finally, Lily Potter turned to Mrs Snape and asked her if she was likely to attend the Malfoy's ball on the 14th of September.
"We did receive an invitation, yes." She replied quietly. Then, following social convention asked, "Will you be in attendance?"
Lily nodded, "Certainly, for Harry is good friends with Mr and Mrs Malfoy. We are often at their house and when we are not Harry is. Your son shall not want for company."
Master Snape's gaze lifted from the floor at that moment and looked at Mrs Potter as though he had never before heard of his up-coming nuptials.
"Severus has not often been in company I am afraid." Mrs Snape commented.
'So his name is Severus. How unusual.' Harry decided to take pity on the younger man and attempted to draw him into the conversation. He knew that it was rather uncomfortable to have people talking about you as though you were not there yet almost everyone still seemed to do it. It was a socially accepted practice at embarrassment; especially for the young.
He leaned forward in his chair towards the couch Mr Snape was sat upon beside his mother and said, "Master Snape, are you well?"
Severus met his eyes unflinchingly if a little warily and replied, "I am well enough. And yourself?"
"I am very well, thank you." Harry smiled at him. He desperately wanted to find out what the younger man thought about their engagement but social convention and his parents' close presence prevented him.
"Do you like to read, Master Snape?"
"Yes." Severus answered simply. He was very awkward, he was not accustomed to talking to people he did not know. His father had kept him at home, not even allowing him to go to university, because he had decided that, as his youngest son was gay, Severus was to be married to a wealthy man. From that day on Severus had been treated almost like a woman. He was even going to be married off with a dowry, much to his dismay.
Harry inwardly groaned. Gods this was becoming difficult. It was very hard to converse with someone who only gave monosyllabic answers. He tired again, "Do you like music?"
"Yes," Then he added something of his own volition, "I play the pianoforte."
Harry silently thanked all the gods he could think of. Finally he was getting a conversation, "Whose music do you generally practice?"
"Beethoven and Mozart mostly. Do you like music?" Severus had decided that if Mr Potter could make the effort to try to get to know him that he should be good enough to answer his questions, perhaps he would get to know his future husband too. Who knew, maybe they would even become friends. After all, they were going to be spending the rest of their lives together. There was no option of that, no choice in the matter at all, Severus had already been warned by his father that this was one suitor that he was most certainly not allowed to run off for threat of being disinherited. Not that Severus really cared about that but, without a university education, he had no contacts to move in the world. He would be bereft and he had no desire to end up in a brothel, selling himself or dead in the streets. It was incredibly difficult to get anywhere in the world without someone supporting you, promoting your merits.
"Yes, though I confess I play the pianoforte very ill indeed, my mother attempted to teach me when I was young but failed as I had neither the talent nor the inclination to practice and none of my tutors could play. I can read music well enough but my fingers lack the grace to perform the beautiful pieces." Harry admitted with an abashed smile.
Severus returned the smile slightly, "How unfortunate."
As he spoke the butler entered the room and announced that dinner was served so Harry stood, offering his arm to his fiancé and leading him to the dinning room behind his mother and father.
It was a grand room, richly furnished. Mr Snape was very pleased that his son was to marry into such wealth; he himself was not quite so rich which was the point in marrying Severus off. Despite the dowry he was giving his youngest son the contacts he would gain from being related to the Potters would increase his business greatly and the circles they moved in would be much higher than usual and more varied.
Harry was seated opposite Severus who seemed torn between demurely lowering his eyes and meeting Harry's gaze dead on. If he was honest with himself Severus Snape intrigued Harry very much; he was almost feminine in some of his mannerisms yet Harry could see that he was often restraining himself in his onyx eyes. Harry had heard stories of younger sons who were treated like women, trained to be submissive and demur, and married off to rich men. He also knew that Tobias Snape had two sons, one recently married to a young lady of fortune, leaving Severus as the only unmarried son but surely Mr Snape would not act like those men who only cared about money and not their sons. How old-fashioned of him.
Harry determined to find out, "Master Snape, may I enquire why it is that you have no profession?" He asked quietly so as to not alert the rest of the table.
He could sense that he was being measured by that assessing gaze. Finally Severus seemed to come to a decision, "I was not fortunate enough to have attended university."
"You do not enjoy study?" Harry continued his questioning. Everything they were saying was fraught with double meanings, to understand and be able to respond to such questions meant that Severus Snape was a very intelligent man; surely it was not a lack of intelligence that caused the neglect in his education.
"On the contrary, I love to study. I have passed many happy hours in our library."
"Then I presume other obligations prevented your attendance?" He flicked his eyes to Severus' father as he spoke.
Master Snape's mouth turned up minutely at the corners, he nodded his head.
"Come, what are you two are talking about so secretly?" Tobias Snape questioned loudly. He had drunk quite a lot already. He wanted to make sure that his youngest was behaving himself, Severus had already scared away two suitors; Tobias had been exceedingly happy when he had been introduced to James Potter who had a son he wanted to get married quickly. Luckily, Severus didn't seem to be insulting and belittling the Potter boy, at least not yet anyway.
Adriana Snape, on the other hand, could see that her beloved son was interested in the youngest Potter. 'Thank Merlin! I could never be content if my Severus was married to someone he could not like.' She knew that her son was perhaps not the easiest person to get along with, he had a biting wit and sarcastic sense of humour, but he was a good man. It was a shame that her husband had not allowed him to go to university, Severus would have been a well respected member of society by now, but no, Tobias, knowing that his son preferred males, kept him home and trained him to be a wife. It killed Adriana to see Severus, her strong-willed youngest son, acting like a demure young woman. It was almost natural for him now. Though she knew that he constantly had to stop himself from making a comment. This was something she would have to keep an eye on. Catching the gaze of Mrs Potter, Adriana thought that at least she'd have an ally.
After dinner Severus was entreated to play the pianoforte for them while they played whist. It was apparent that the young man was uncomfortable performing to strangers by the line of his eyebrows. In an attempt to both escape the conversation of his parents and to engage his future husband in conversation Harry joined the pale youth at the piano and announced himself as the page-turner.
Whilst keeping an eye on the page music to know when he had to turn it Harry began his foray into conversational intercourse. "So Master Snape…"
By the end of the night all Harry had learnt of his husband-to-be was that he liked music and reading and did not like cards. He also thought that the man was rather sarcastic but because he had not heard him say very much could no be sure.
The Snapes left. James turned to him son and raised an eyebrow in question.
"I do not hate him." Harry pronounced and walked off.
James shifted his gaze from his departing son to his wife with a slight smile on his face. "That was good news wasn't it?" Lily just rolled her eyes at her husband. 'Honestly, men!'
In the carriage Adriana Snape looked at her son. His face, as usual, was inscrutable. He caught her gaze and shrugged elegantly. She sighed mentally. This child would be the death of her.