Marcus's House, England – Night – July 3rd, 1975
Marcus put on a warm set of clothes: a long-sleeved sweater and his pajama pants. He rummaged through his drawers, looking for something that might fit Severus. He found a white sweater, a pair of boxers, and black sleep pants. Leaving his room, he walked toward the bathroom and knocked softly on the door.
"Hey, Severus, are you done with your shower? I've got your clothes here."
From inside, Severus answered that he was about to finish. A few seconds later, the door cracked open and a pale hand reached out to take the clothes, along with a quiet "thanks." Marcus nodded and headed downstairs toward the kitchen.He began opening cupboards calmly but with purpose. He pulled out a piece of meat wrapped in wax paper — a deer loin he'd gotten recently. He also found a few large potatoes and a bottle of red wine, which he placed on the counter.
While sharpening a knife and preparing the ingredients, he heard footsteps behind him.Severus stopped at the doorway, hair still damp, the borrowed clothes slightly too big for his thin frame. He watched Marcus warily — though there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"What are you doing?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Making dinner," Marcus replied without looking up. He sliced a potato cleanly, then glanced at Severus with a raised brow."Are you going to stand there staring at me like a wet cat, or are you going to help? I could teach you a recipe from my cookbook."
Severus frowned but, after a moment, stepped forward, setting aside his usual reserve.He read over the recipe — his skill with potions translating naturally into cooking. For him, it was a way to repay Marcus's unexpected kindness.
"I'll handle the meat," he said, picking up the deer loin and examining its quality.
"Perfect," Marcus replied with a small grin, stepping aside to give him space.
The kitchen filled with soft sounds — the rhythmic chop of the knife, the bubbling of water, the quiet crackle of fire from the hearth.Severus, focused, cleaned the meat with precision, trimming sinew and fat before searing it in a hot pan with butter and herbs. When it was perfectly browned, he poured in a generous splash of red wine, letting the alcohol burn off and leave behind a dark, glossy sauce.
Meanwhile, Marcus boiled the potatoes, then mashed them with a fork, adding butter, a little milk, and salt until they turned smooth and creamy.
"Not bad," he commented, tasting the texture.
Severus shot him a brief, ironic glance."Neither are you — for an amateur."
Marcus laughed softly."You and your sharp tongue, Snape. But I'll admit — you're excellent with meat… not that it surprises me, coming from a potion prodigy."
Severus felt warmth creep up his neck at the compliment."Glad to disappoint you, Your Majesty," he said with dry sarcasm.
When they finished, both sat down at the table, sharing a comfortable silence as they tasted the result: deer loin with a rich red-wine glaze, creamy mashed potatoes, and glasses of wine.Marcus nodded in approval after the first bite."Not bad at all," he said.
Severus didn't reply, but his lips curved into what might almost have been a smile.
After dinner, they lounged in the living room, comfortably full.Marcus rose slowly, went to his record player, and set down a vinyl. Within seconds, the smooth rhythm of One of These Nights by the Eagles filled the air.Marcus smiled at Severus as he brought out more wine from the kitchen.
"Join me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.Severus hesitated for a moment before accepting.
As time passed, the wine loosened their tongues. Drunk and talkative, they began to open up. Severus studied him curiously.
"And you… your parents?" he asked.
Marcus's gaze drifted off into nothing."My mother died when I was twelve. She was a good woman — taught me the basics of magic before my Hogwarts letter came. My father… well, he was a bastard. Jealous of her magic. All he had was this house my grandparents left him. He died a year ago — drunk, in a car crash. So I've been on my own since then."He smiled bitterly. "I guess abused kids just grow up faster."
Severus understood all too well. He lowered his eyes and murmured,"My house is a disaster. Tobias — my father — hates me. Hates what I am. Hates my mother. And he makes sure we both know it. When he's drunk, which is almost always, he breaks things. Or he breaks us. My mother tries to calm him, but she's already broken herself. And I… I learned to be invisible. To stay in my room and endure it."
"Hogwarts is… different. Not better, but different. There I don't have to listen to shouting or feel that constant threat. Though the Marauders never leave me alone — they make a game out of humiliating me. Once, Potter and Black… well, they broke a few bones. But at least at Hogwarts the pain has a reason: because it's me. At home, Tobias doesn't even need one."
He sighed. "Dark magic… it's not about cruelty. It's about control. When you're that fucked up, you need to feel like you have power over something. That you can hurt back if you need to. That you're more than a punching bag. It's how I remind myself I can still fight. At Hogwarts, I can hide behind books and spells. Here… there's nowhere to hide."
Marcus poured him more wine, looking at him with quiet pity."Your life's a mess, Severus," he murmured.
Severus nodded silently.
"So, what do you want?" Marcus asked, leaning back in his chair. "What's your dream?"
Severus didn't answer. Marcus chuckled."Let me guess — you want to marry Lily and become a master potioneer?"
Severus blushed faintly and muttered, "Actually…"
"And you?" Severus asked in return.
"I want to explore all of magic — learn its secrets, break its limits. Be the second coming of Merlin."He smirked. "And also travel the world, help people… and, well, have sex."
Severus blinked, surprised — then laughed softly. Marcus joined him with a playful wink."Quite the dream, huh?" he said, laughing.
A little drunk, Marcus stared into the distance before blurting,"So… have you ever kissed anyone? Or, you know… had sex?"
Severus looked confused by the sudden change of topic, but answered quietly,"Yes… I've kissed Lily. But I haven't… had sex."
"Lily? The gorgeous redhead from Gryffindor?" Marcus asked, surprised.
Severus nodded.
"Wow… didn't think she'd let you kiss her. You know, considering your looks," Marcus said — without malice.
Severus grumbled under his breath that Lily didn't care about appearances. Marcus sighed.
"Severus, you're ugly by choice. If you actually took care of yourself, fixed those little flaws… Come on, we're wizards — there's nothing we can't change."
"And why the hell do you care about my looks, bastard?" Severus growled, standing up.
Marcus stood too, his expression serious."Because I can see how much pride you hide behind. If Lily loves you like this, imagine if you tried. But you stay stubborn, refusing to change. One day someone else will come along, and Lily will leave."
Severus exploded."What the hell do you care?!"
Marcus growled back, stepping closer. Then, suddenly, he grabbed Severus by the face and kissed him.Severus froze — but the moment he felt Marcus's lips, he gave in to the sensation. The kiss burned — urgent, wild, overwhelming.Their mouths found each other hungrily; tongues explored, hands tangled in hair, fabric, skin.
It was reckless, chaotic, unstoppable — a wave of desire pulling them under, leaving no room for doubt.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and shocked, they stepped back quickly, both apologizing.Marcus told Severus to take his bed, that he'd stay in the office. They climbed the stairs in silence, each retreating to a separate room — but the kiss still burned in their thoughts.
Lying in Marcus's bed, Severus wondered what the hell he had gotten himself into.And Marcus, alone in his office, whispered to himself,"What the hell have I done?"