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"How was the first week of classes as Defence against the Dark Arts Professor ?"
"Fine."
"I hope the first years weren't much of a hassle."
"Not more than usual."
Severus Snape was pointedly staring at his plate, although he was mostly pushing the sauteed vegetables around with a fork instead of eating them.
Dumbledore sighed. He glanced at McGonagall and she slightly shook her head. Both of them dreaded Snape's reaction after the headmaster announced that Sirius Black was just hired as professor of Care of Magical Creatures and that he'll be starting the following morning.
"Sirius will a great addition to our staff," proclaimed Slughorn. "He was a brilliant student and I'm sure he gained much knowledge on magic during his travel around the world. I've read all about it in the Daily Prophet."
Severus rolled his eyes. Slughorn always had a sore spot when it came to Black. Thanks to being the head of Slytherin House, he was in proximity to all the heirs of the pureblood families, but the descendant of the most prestigious one escaped his clutches and was sorted with the lions.
Naturally, Minerva never missed a chance to flaunt it.
"Indeed. Such a pride for Griffinfor House."
"If you'll excuse me," mumbled Snape before he suddenly stood and quickly left the Great Hall.
Madam Pomfrey stared at his untouched plate. "He's taking it…better than I expected, but I insist that you talk to him Albus."
Albus assured Poppy with a quick nod then quickly gestured for the teachers to focus on finishing their meals.
The school's nurse wasn't the only faculty member worried about the headmaster's decision. Sirius Black and Severus Snape shared a…tumultuous past, to say in the least. Slughorn just claimed that both of them are now adults and that they're required to be professional as colleagues. On the other hand, Poppy Pomfrey warned them that their animosity will be difficult to overcome. After all, thanks to Sirius Black antics, she spent many long nights tending to the wounds he inflected on multiple students.
After the breakfast, Dumbledore went back to his office. He was pacing the room, which worried the portraits adorning the walls.
"How is he Phineas ?"
"He's still not coming back to Grimmauld's. Walburga is still mad about it of course. She's all alone with her husband now that Regulus accepted to be a permanet faculty member at Durmstrang Institute."
Dumbledore is aware that it's not easy for Phineas to share intimate stories about his family. Yet, when he heard that the headmaster is offering the heir to his house a position that will tempt Sirius to come back home, he was willing to strike a deal.
Dumbledore settled in the red armchair of his office. "Thank you Phineas."
Yet again, his plan was successful. Albus smiled to himself. Offer the affluent pureblood families positions at Hogwarts or the ministry, more prestigious and more money, and they'll slip away from Voldemort's clutches. Every wizard thanks Merlin every day that the do called Dark Lord failed to rise in power, thanks to Dumbledore's scheming. Nevertheless, he preferred to keep the heirs of the families Voldemort was targeting under his watch.
Especially a wild spirit like Sirius Black.
A knock on the door interrupted his musings.
"You sent for me headmaster."
"Ah, Severus. Come in, please. Settle down."
Fawkes began chirping in his nest at the sight of Severus, making the latter extremely uncomfortable.
"It's a great honor to be flattered by a phoenix," beamed Dumbledore.
"…Thanks…I guess…"
Severus felt Dumbledore's eyes piercing his skull. He didn't know what to make of the headmaster who let him down time and time again as a school boy. Yet, a year after he graduated, he offered him the defence against the dark arts teaching position.
He couldn't refuse it. It is his dream job.
Of course, life always made sure to not let him revel in joy for too long.
Dumbledore took a deep breath. "As contrary as it may seem, I am not making decisions to spite you Severus."
Snape snorted. The countless times he was dismissed in this very office after complaining about the constant attacks and harrassment he was under during seven years is making it hard to believe.
"He promised me that he'll be on his best behavior," added Dumbledore softly, hoping that the emotional wounds he knows the slytherin harbous have at least scarred. Somewhat.
"I'm sure he reached spiritual enlightenement through his travel, if the articles in the Daily Prophet are anything to go by," responded Severus ironically.
Dumbledore's eyes widened amusingly. "Now that's interesting, I didn't know you were particularly interested in the gossip on the press about Sirius."
"I was just curious like everyone," answered the slytherin a little too quickly. "Besides, they just proved me right. The so called work trip is just another sign of his inflated ego."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at the blush creeping up Severus's gaunt cheeks.
"I might disagree with you Severus, but you are entitled to your own opinion."
"All right. If that's all headmaster, I'd like to go prepare for the class that's about to start in fifteen minutes."
"Of course my boy, off you go."
Once Severus stepped out of the room. Dumbledore walked up to the phoenix laying in his nest and stroked his soft red feathers.
"What an interesting turn of events, isn't it Fawkes."
The phoenix trilled in agreement.
During dinner, at night, the students at the table were peeking in awe at their new professor, who arrived earlier than the rest of the teachers.
"Merlin, is that really our new Care of Magical Creatures teacher?" whispered a fourth year hufflepuff to her friends.
"I know right ? I'll definitely be paying more attention in class now."
"I've read all about him in the prophet, he's been travelling the world for a while now. He was one of the to students when he was a student."
"It's so unfair," grumbled a sixth year boy. "You can't be hot and smart."
The group of students blushed and immediately quited down when Sirius turned his head in their direction.
Ever since he turned into an Animagus, his hearing and sense of smell became sharper. He was currently overstimulated by the overwhelming chatter in the Great Hall, especially now that he's the main topic of discussion.
Soon enough, the rest of the professors showed up. Most of them welcomed him back to the school, he was elated at the proud look on McGonagall's face, and slightly weary of Slughorn's over-enthusiastic handshake.
Dumbledore gave his usual speech, introduced Sirius to the students who clapped in excitement.
All that noise, all the smells of the delicouso food served on the table ceased to exist when he showed up.
Unremarkable, silent, in the shadows, draped in all black, yet he captured Sirius's attention ad if he's the only thing that existed in the room.
Snape didn't acknowledge him, and the rest of the professors didn't comment on it. He got distracted soon enough by questions about his journey, the countries he visited, the cultures he visited, the people he encountered.
He coulnd't admit to them that he spent most of his time running as a dog in the forests on the world.
"I didn't meet many people, but I did collect some interesting herbs and ingredients."
Sirius's heart skipped a beat when Snape finally looked up at him. He knew that he was the DADA professor, but anyone who studied wih the slytherin knows of his passion for potions. A passion and love for discovery.
"What did you find dear boy?" wondered Slughorn. "Perhaps you can give them to Pomona, she can grow anything in her gardens."
"Oh they can't really be harvested in areas other than their native lands," answered Sirius, although his gaze was fixed on Snape. A storm was gathering in the depths of his grey eyes. "I collected a decent amount. I haven't decided on who I shoulf gift them to."
"No one is interested in your blessing Black," spat Snape.
"Well hello to you to Snape."
"What's the matter? Can't handle it when someone is not interested in your overrated achievements?"
"See Snape, being sourpuss just cost you an expensive batch of potion ingredients you'll only ever see in books."
"I'll be just fine."
Dumbledore cleared his throat in a theatrical way and the two immediately ceased their back-and-fourth. They looked down at their plates and consciously ignored each other for the rest of the night.
As Severus was about to finally lay in bed, after drinking two potions one for relieve a headache and the other for dreamless sleep, another note from the headmaster appeared in his quarters.
"Headmaster, I have to admit that this is getting rather tiresome-"
The sentence died in Severus's lips when he noticed that Sirius is also in the office.
"Take a seat Severus."
Dumbledore's voice left no room for discussion.
Severus begrudgingly at next to Sirius, as far as he could, as if he's escaping a disease. To Sirius's utmost annoyance. An annoyance that he didn't hesitate to show with his facial expressions.
"I've summoned you at this late hour because I have a very important mission for you two."
"Believe me Dumbledore, teaching a hippogriff how to waltz is easier than collaboraing with Sni-"
"Oh please, hippogriffs are intelligent creatures. They wouldn't judge you worthy."
Dumbledore's vein began to throb in his temple. "Both of you can pack your suitcases and leave if you don't succeed in this mission. I assure you, I have endless applications for both of you teaching positions."
The silence that draped the office reflected the dread that Snape and Sirius felt in an instant.
"Now, as you know, the christmas annual party wil be held very soon. I need you to look for specific decorations in the Room of Requirement that were bewitched, lift the curses from these objects, then deliver them to Filch and Hagrid," explained Dumbledore cheerfully as if he didn't just threaten to sack the both of them. "A task easy enough for wizards of your caliber."
Sirius swallowed. He didn't really desire this job much, but he didn't want to be known as the professor who was sacked by Dumbledore before he taught his first class.
"You have the rest of the week to find the decoration. Now, I bid you good night and see you tomorrow."
The walk outside of Dumbledore's office was an awkward one. Apparently, the headmaster's wrath was something they had in common. It knocked every desire of sleep out of Severus's body.
"I'm looking for them starting now," said Snape, quickening his walking pace across the hall.
"Hey! Didn't you hear the old man? He said he wanted us to find them together!" countered Sirius.
"Unlike you, I don't have the time, nor the fortune, to look after them at my leisure. I'll be done with this quickly enough."
Sirius held Snape's arm and pulled him back to slow him down.
"Listen here you sly snake, if you ever sabotage me in this mission, I'll make sure you regret it."
"Let. Go. Of. Me."
Snape's voice was low but wasn't any less threatening. His eyes were an endless depth of darkness. The light from the candles on the walls were flickering in his black irises.
Sirius swallowed against their intensity. He didn't know black eyes could be so expressive.
He held his hand up to Snape.
"We lift the curse from these stupid decorations, and I'll make sure to never cross your path again."
Severus stared at the outstretched hand, then at Sirius's face, searching for signs of malice or deceit. When he found none, thanks to his Legilimency, he nodded curtly without shaking the offered hand, then walked away from Sirius.
"Asshole," mumbled Black under his breath.
It took a while to reach the seventh floor of the castle, once they reached Barnabas the Barmy's portrait, it was easy to get inside the Room of Hidden Things.
"Just focus on the decorations and they'll show up."
"I know how the room works Black."
"Forgive me for trying to help."
"Your greatest help would be silence."
"Oh shut up."
The Room of Requirement appeared in front of them. it was poorly lit and it looked like a broom closet. They found many boxes piled up in the storage units. Once Severus tapped his wand on of the drawers, the decorations sprang from the boxes as if pulled by an invisible thread, and twirled around the room.
Each time a decoration for a specific occasion swirled around them : graduation, easter, birthdays, at last, colorful garlands, tree toppers, tinsels and wreaths sprang around the room.
Well, this was easier than expected, thought Sirius.
Snape Accio'd the objects into a conjured bag, inspected each for any hidden curses before turning on his heels.
"Watch out!"
Before Snape could react, he felt ropes twist around arms and his chest before they pulled him back to the broom closet. In Sirius's attempt to catch him with his hand, the ropes extended and wrapped around Sirius'sbody as well before they pulled him inside as well. The door to the broom closet slammed shut and Severus's face burned as he realized that if it weren't for Black's supporting himself against the wall with is arms, he would have crushed him with his weight.
They were close. Too close. So close that Severus was almost pressing his cheek against Black's chest.
He could smell his cologne. Sandelwood, velvety, warm.
"Fuck."
The ropes around their bodies weren't ropes. They were long smooth green leaves, with waxy white berries.
The leaves were pulling them tighter and tighter together. His arms begain to shake and tremble against the wall.
Sirius swallowed.
"I think you know what this mistletoe wants Snape," asked Sirius through clenched teeth.
Snape nodded his head frantically.
"Let's do it and we'll never talk about it."
"Deal," agreed Snape. His breatheless tone made Sirius a bit weak in the knees.
Sirius was resisting against all his might against the leaves. They were burrying into his flesh, yet he made sure to not crush Severus against the wall with his strength.
The strength is quite impressive, thought Severus to himself. He angled his face so that his lips were mere inches apart from Sirius's. The latter leant down in turn and they brushed their lips together in an unmistakable kiss.
It was a mere peck, but it was enough for the mistletoe twigs to cease wrapping around their bodies. They began shrinking before the plant regained its original size and crawled back into hiding.
Sirius didn't move an inch besides slightly stepping back. The sight of Snape knocked all air out of his lungs. His cheeks were almost red, his eyes glassy and he was glancing almost shyly at him.
It made the blood in Sirius's veins boil.
In a second, both of the men slammed into each other in a passionate kiss, its intensity and ardor so opposite to the first peck they shared. The Griffindor put his hands under the Slytherin's thighs and lifted him easily. Severus wrapped his arms and legs around Sirius as he was pushed against the wall.
Sirius couldn't believe the softness of lips that sprang so many insults at him. Snape, who is so rigid and tense during the day, is so pliable in his arms and easy to carry. He couldn't resist trailing his tongue along the slytherin's thin neck, stealing an invountary moan.
"Fuck," groaned Sirius as he nibbled on Severus's earlobe. "I want more of those, please, give me more. I need to believe that this isn't just another dream."
The warm panting against his ear made shivers course through Severus's body. All he could do was hang on to Black's body in order to not fall thanks to his compromising position, and let himself be in Black's mercy.
He was shocked at how the mere thought was heightening his arousal.
He ran one of his hands through Black's curly locks, soft, longs, thick. Something he could hold onto during a pounding.
Suddenly, they heard keys turn in the lock of the room of requirement. Sirius quickly pulled himself back and Severus cast a glamour on the both of them.
Filch's confused face appeared behind a lamp. "What are you both doing here?"
"We are teachers. On a special mission by Dumbledore."
Sirius sealed the box of christmas decorations and carried it with him with a levitation charm.
"Good night Filch. Snape."
"Black."
They nodded discourteously at each other as if they weren't senselessly making out against the wall one minute ago.
Before going to sleep in his quarters, Severus drank double the dose of the dreamless sleep potion and headache relief. He was about to dose off when an unfamiliar owl knocked on his bedroom window.
Severus opened the window, took the message from the bird who alse carried a small bag made of cloth.
SS,
You'll find the ingredients I collected during my travels in the bag.
I've charmed the chrismtas decoration box to be delivered to Dumbledore in the eary hours.
I kept the mistletoe.
For us.
SB,