[Fic:] Not a change, just an Not a Change, just an Adjustment Chapter 33
Title: Chapter 33 Family Inheritance
Author :
smirkingcat
Rating: PG-13
Word Count : 2.110
Notes:
find part one lj, dw
as usual all the thanks and gratitude to
themightyflynn for the beta, who is sticking with me through the good, the bad, the exasperated and everything else
written for October 2019 Prompt 2: Aching joints from hp_BunInTheOven
Summary: Somehow his mother found even more to complicate the whole thing even further.
Warnings: fluff, flangst, mpreg, D/s- subtext, OOC, heavy future angst planned
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Family Inheritance
Blaise was astonished at how calm and unfazed Severus seemed about the news his mother just delivered to them. As well as the hint that there was more to come. He shouldn't be. After all, Severus must have heard and seen much more as a spy. But still. to Blaise. this felt different. This was about them, their future, and their life together, which apparently now was getting much more official than Blaise was prepared for it to be.
It was not that he was ashamed of Severus; quite the opposite. He was certain there would be people out there, saying that Severus deserved better. And, at the same time others would say Blaise did deserve better. They would not understand, and even if they tried, Blaise did not want them to understand. Blaise wanted this relationship just for himself. It was already such a disaster telling others...
"And pray, Senzafiona, if it is amiable to you that I may call you by your first name as well, what is the other issue you wish to discuss with us?"
"Well, actually it is an issue I primarily have to discuss with you, Severus."
As the words reached Blaise, he was not sure if he wanted to disappear, or if he wanted his mother to. Nothing that could follow such a sentence would be good.
"You may continue then," Severus said.
He still sounded so calm and undisturbed that Blaise wanted to be even more enraged on his behalf. But then the hand on his thigh squeezed down again. Reassured that Severus understood, that he did not like where this conversation was going, Blaise tried to calm himself down. Maybe he shouldn't sit here and listen to this, but at the same time he didn't want to leave Severus alone with his mother... and he was not even certain for whose protection he was here.
"As Blaise stated before, for a Zabini there are certain rules which must be followed. Most of them are to ensure that the family will prosper in the future. As such, a marriage needs to be considered carefully for a Zabini."
Blaise could not believe his mother was able to say such a sentence with a straight face, and therefore he was unable to suppress the snort escaping him. Who was she- married twenty-nine to thirty-three times, if Blaise had not lost count - trying to fool?
And though he could detect a hint of amusement from Severus, his mother was not in the slightest seeing the irony of the situation.
Senzafiona cleared her throat loudly before she continued. "Many aspects influence the decision of whether the proposal can be considered: reputation, health, wealth, and beauty are the most important ones."
"With a Blood Curse forbidding bastard children, I can only imagine that circumstances, too, sway the decision," Severus interjected calmly, though there was a tightening around his lips, telling Blaise that he was no longer was as amused with the situation.
"On occasion, circumstances have to be considered, of course. Though I believe we may not have to rely solemnly on circumstances, Severus. Your reputation speaks for itself: war hero, receiver of an Order of Merlin First Class, youngest Headmaster of Hogwarts, also considered one of the fairest there have been, Masterpotioneer, and though some families may consider it a fault, the Zabinis certainly can appreciate the wit and talent it takes to be an excellent spy."
"If you are going to sing his praises, then why should this be an issue at all?" Blaise asked, rolling his eyes. Somehow hearing Severus' biggest achievements- and knowing the smaller ones, like being the first one to be able to improve the Wolfsbane Potion, and inventing many handy spells, made Blaise feel even more unsuited to be in Severus' sight. His own biggest achievement was to be Severus' companion for more than a decade after all.
"This impatience of yours must be a hormonal thing, and I therefore shall overlook it, today, darling. However reputation is not the issue, and as Italians in decent we certainly can appreciate strong faces, and magical power. The issue is the wealth. There is merely a dime to your name as Severus Snape," Senzafiona stated, leaning back in her seat and looking over to Severus.
"Mother,-"
"Blaise, I am certain I raised you better than this. And I am certain that you know that patience will bring you further in life than rudeness will ever accomplish. You will also learn a lot more. Now, as I said, as Severus Snape your finances are rather lacking; however there is the Prince estate, to which you are the last one with a claim to."
As his mother finished speaking, she swished her wand, and two stacks of paper ordered themselves in front of Severus, and a big family chart opened itself, hovering over the table. Blaise was surprised, but not sure what really surprised him: the shrewdness of his mother or the fact that Severus was the last of such a prestigious line?
Severus had told him that his mother was a Prince, of course. But when Severus spoke about his family he only ever spoke about his mother and once, when he was already a bit tipsy, about his father. Never did he speak about the extended family, so Blaise always assumed that the Prince family followed the example of many other pure blood families, and now it may not be that way.
"This is an impressive chart of my family tree, and of the family finances and estates," Severus said after having briefly looked over the writings.
"I have very good ties to Gringotts. No matter what the Goblins may say about wizards- or what most wizards think of the Goblins- you will never see better family linage charts as from the Goblins. The Wizard families tend to change their linage from time to time, but that won't fool Goblin charts. As long as you are not magically removed from the family tree, before the law, and therefore before the Goblins, you will be counted as part of the family."
"My mother said she can never go back," Severus said, looking at his mother's image, firmly attached to the family tree.
"Sometimes, pride more than circumstances prevent women from what they really desire. I have come to understand that it is a battle that men fight too, but most men have the ability to get over their pride, when what they want matters to them. For women it is not that simple." His mother sighed. "You mother was an incredible prideful woman, and she did not take kindly to people pointing out that her plans had flaws, or that their decisions might not work out."
His mother did not speak kindly about many people; most of them she considered beneath her, either in beauty, in wit or in wealth. And though she would never fault someone for being less wealthy, and never mock those less fortunate in their looks, being witless was a fault his mother showed no mercy to. And she considered most people witless. Severus' mother must have left a deep impression on his own mother, and Blaise would like to know more, but he was certain he never would.
"You are right, of course. My mother was incredibly prideful," Severus said with admiration in his voice.
"A trait you inherited from her, I am certain."
"Thank you for noticing," Severus replied smoothly.
Blaise wondered what sort of game his mother and Severus were playing. He was not sure he understood the rules, but he was certain they played it without him.
"I doubt though, as a half-blood, that my claim will be recognised by Gringotts, even if you say it exists."
"It exists, it is valid and, as there is nobody else laying claim to the estate there will be no dispute over it," his mother said with confidence.
"So, for the wedding, which has to happen to save the child and most likely your son's life, I am expected to take over the Prince Estate, and then hand it over to the Zabinis?" Severus asked, his voice as sharp as a knife.
"Not quite what I had in mind, but in essence. Of course there is no need to hand over the estate. The inheritance for the child, or maybe even children, shall be figured out at a later date. I merely want to make sure that you have an estate of your own. This is the one demand that I have before I, as head of the family, shall approve of this marriage."
Blaise looked in shock at his mother. She was aware of what she was saying, and she still said it like that? Before Blaise could even begin to voice his opinion to his mother's demand, Severus spoke first.
"You are willing to risk your son's life and end his child simply for a connection to the Prince Estate?" Severus did sound calm, but there was also a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"The risk is rather calculated, I fear. After all, my son is very capable, in many ways far more capable than I am myself. So, I am confident in his choice of partner," his mother stated.
Blaise was surprised by the vote of confidence from his mother, but he feared that the compliment was not truly intended for him. Also, he was not certain that Severus would chose him at all. That was the reason he hadn't known how to tell Severus about the pregnancy in the first place. They simply had not had that sort of relationship. And now that they were trying it felt like walking across a swamp, not sure what step was going to be the downfall. It was frightening.
Severus leaned back in his chair, removing the hand from Blaise's thigh and looking at him openly. Blaise was used to his mother's looks, when she expected him to behave in a particular manner. He was also used to Severus' looks, most of them intrigued when he said something the other man had not considered before, or when they were having a battle of wits, and Blaise managed to challenge Severus. The way Severus looked at him, was different to the way his Master would look at him. When Severus changed the role, his gaze became more possessive, more admiring, there was a sensuality and an erotic undertone, that Severus never allowed himself. This judging gaze, however, was rather uncomfortable. Especially as both his mother and Severus certainly had different expectations of him.
"He is indeed very capable," was all Severus finally said.
His mother nodded again and returned to her breakfast. "With that out of the way, let's talk about something more exciting. How do you like your pregnancy, sweetheart? And how is life in general treating you? I must say, I am very happy to have read that you will be living here again. I always worried what would become of the estate run only by the elves."
"Forgive me mother, but I think that so far there is very little likeable about this pregnancy, so far. My appetite is appalling, most of the time I have trouble keeping everything I eat down, my sleep has become troubled, and my joints ache as if I am prematurely aging," Blaise stated, taking umbrage with the phrase his mother used. Never to mention, with the conversation. He was part of it, but not sure what it meant.
"The wonders of motherhood. I never thought you would get to experience it this directly. Certainly not with how much you always liked the French ladies, and have them keep you company."
Blaise wondered what his mother thought she would achieve with such a comment. His Master once had him tell him about his sexual escapades, and also told him about his own. It had been an interesting night in many regards.
"Considering that this pregnancy was not planned, and that I did take the potion so highly recommended by you, I can assure you that I also never thought for a moment, that I would find myself in this position," Blaise simply answered.
"The important thing is that you and the child will be healthy and happy. As the matriarch, I have to say, I find it reassuring that there will be a next generation. Maybe, in time, you will consider another child," his mother replied.
Blaise was astonished how smoothly she had ignored the whole potion issue. It was these discussions, that reminded Blaise how lucky the world was, that his mother thought politics too much work. This entry was originally posted at https://smirkingcat.dreamwidth.org/303685.html comments will be seen sooner over at @lj
Author :
smirkingcat
Rating: PG-13
Word Count : 2.110
Notes:
find part one lj, dw
as usual all the thanks and gratitude to
themightyflynn for the beta, who is sticking with me through the good, the bad, the exasperated and everything else
written for October 2019 Prompt 2: Aching joints from hp_BunInTheOven
Summary: Somehow his mother found even more to complicate the whole thing even further.
Warnings: fluff, flangst, mpreg, D/s- subtext, OOC, heavy future angst planned
Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Family Inheritance
Blaise was astonished at how calm and unfazed Severus seemed about the news his mother just delivered to them. As well as the hint that there was more to come. He shouldn't be. After all, Severus must have heard and seen much more as a spy. But still. to Blaise. this felt different. This was about them, their future, and their life together, which apparently now was getting much more official than Blaise was prepared for it to be.
It was not that he was ashamed of Severus; quite the opposite. He was certain there would be people out there, saying that Severus deserved better. And, at the same time others would say Blaise did deserve better. They would not understand, and even if they tried, Blaise did not want them to understand. Blaise wanted this relationship just for himself. It was already such a disaster telling others...
"And pray, Senzafiona, if it is amiable to you that I may call you by your first name as well, what is the other issue you wish to discuss with us?"
"Well, actually it is an issue I primarily have to discuss with you, Severus."
As the words reached Blaise, he was not sure if he wanted to disappear, or if he wanted his mother to. Nothing that could follow such a sentence would be good.
"You may continue then," Severus said.
He still sounded so calm and undisturbed that Blaise wanted to be even more enraged on his behalf. But then the hand on his thigh squeezed down again. Reassured that Severus understood, that he did not like where this conversation was going, Blaise tried to calm himself down. Maybe he shouldn't sit here and listen to this, but at the same time he didn't want to leave Severus alone with his mother... and he was not even certain for whose protection he was here.
"As Blaise stated before, for a Zabini there are certain rules which must be followed. Most of them are to ensure that the family will prosper in the future. As such, a marriage needs to be considered carefully for a Zabini."
Blaise could not believe his mother was able to say such a sentence with a straight face, and therefore he was unable to suppress the snort escaping him. Who was she- married twenty-nine to thirty-three times, if Blaise had not lost count - trying to fool?
And though he could detect a hint of amusement from Severus, his mother was not in the slightest seeing the irony of the situation.
Senzafiona cleared her throat loudly before she continued. "Many aspects influence the decision of whether the proposal can be considered: reputation, health, wealth, and beauty are the most important ones."
"With a Blood Curse forbidding bastard children, I can only imagine that circumstances, too, sway the decision," Severus interjected calmly, though there was a tightening around his lips, telling Blaise that he was no longer was as amused with the situation.
"On occasion, circumstances have to be considered, of course. Though I believe we may not have to rely solemnly on circumstances, Severus. Your reputation speaks for itself: war hero, receiver of an Order of Merlin First Class, youngest Headmaster of Hogwarts, also considered one of the fairest there have been, Masterpotioneer, and though some families may consider it a fault, the Zabinis certainly can appreciate the wit and talent it takes to be an excellent spy."
"If you are going to sing his praises, then why should this be an issue at all?" Blaise asked, rolling his eyes. Somehow hearing Severus' biggest achievements- and knowing the smaller ones, like being the first one to be able to improve the Wolfsbane Potion, and inventing many handy spells, made Blaise feel even more unsuited to be in Severus' sight. His own biggest achievement was to be Severus' companion for more than a decade after all.
"This impatience of yours must be a hormonal thing, and I therefore shall overlook it, today, darling. However reputation is not the issue, and as Italians in decent we certainly can appreciate strong faces, and magical power. The issue is the wealth. There is merely a dime to your name as Severus Snape," Senzafiona stated, leaning back in her seat and looking over to Severus.
"Mother,-"
"Blaise, I am certain I raised you better than this. And I am certain that you know that patience will bring you further in life than rudeness will ever accomplish. You will also learn a lot more. Now, as I said, as Severus Snape your finances are rather lacking; however there is the Prince estate, to which you are the last one with a claim to."
As his mother finished speaking, she swished her wand, and two stacks of paper ordered themselves in front of Severus, and a big family chart opened itself, hovering over the table. Blaise was surprised, but not sure what really surprised him: the shrewdness of his mother or the fact that Severus was the last of such a prestigious line?
Severus had told him that his mother was a Prince, of course. But when Severus spoke about his family he only ever spoke about his mother and once, when he was already a bit tipsy, about his father. Never did he speak about the extended family, so Blaise always assumed that the Prince family followed the example of many other pure blood families, and now it may not be that way.
"This is an impressive chart of my family tree, and of the family finances and estates," Severus said after having briefly looked over the writings.
"I have very good ties to Gringotts. No matter what the Goblins may say about wizards- or what most wizards think of the Goblins- you will never see better family linage charts as from the Goblins. The Wizard families tend to change their linage from time to time, but that won't fool Goblin charts. As long as you are not magically removed from the family tree, before the law, and therefore before the Goblins, you will be counted as part of the family."
"My mother said she can never go back," Severus said, looking at his mother's image, firmly attached to the family tree.
"Sometimes, pride more than circumstances prevent women from what they really desire. I have come to understand that it is a battle that men fight too, but most men have the ability to get over their pride, when what they want matters to them. For women it is not that simple." His mother sighed. "You mother was an incredible prideful woman, and she did not take kindly to people pointing out that her plans had flaws, or that their decisions might not work out."
His mother did not speak kindly about many people; most of them she considered beneath her, either in beauty, in wit or in wealth. And though she would never fault someone for being less wealthy, and never mock those less fortunate in their looks, being witless was a fault his mother showed no mercy to. And she considered most people witless. Severus' mother must have left a deep impression on his own mother, and Blaise would like to know more, but he was certain he never would.
"You are right, of course. My mother was incredibly prideful," Severus said with admiration in his voice.
"A trait you inherited from her, I am certain."
"Thank you for noticing," Severus replied smoothly.
Blaise wondered what sort of game his mother and Severus were playing. He was not sure he understood the rules, but he was certain they played it without him.
"I doubt though, as a half-blood, that my claim will be recognised by Gringotts, even if you say it exists."
"It exists, it is valid and, as there is nobody else laying claim to the estate there will be no dispute over it," his mother said with confidence.
"So, for the wedding, which has to happen to save the child and most likely your son's life, I am expected to take over the Prince Estate, and then hand it over to the Zabinis?" Severus asked, his voice as sharp as a knife.
"Not quite what I had in mind, but in essence. Of course there is no need to hand over the estate. The inheritance for the child, or maybe even children, shall be figured out at a later date. I merely want to make sure that you have an estate of your own. This is the one demand that I have before I, as head of the family, shall approve of this marriage."
Blaise looked in shock at his mother. She was aware of what she was saying, and she still said it like that? Before Blaise could even begin to voice his opinion to his mother's demand, Severus spoke first.
"You are willing to risk your son's life and end his child simply for a connection to the Prince Estate?" Severus did sound calm, but there was also a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"The risk is rather calculated, I fear. After all, my son is very capable, in many ways far more capable than I am myself. So, I am confident in his choice of partner," his mother stated.
Blaise was surprised by the vote of confidence from his mother, but he feared that the compliment was not truly intended for him. Also, he was not certain that Severus would chose him at all. That was the reason he hadn't known how to tell Severus about the pregnancy in the first place. They simply had not had that sort of relationship. And now that they were trying it felt like walking across a swamp, not sure what step was going to be the downfall. It was frightening.
Severus leaned back in his chair, removing the hand from Blaise's thigh and looking at him openly. Blaise was used to his mother's looks, when she expected him to behave in a particular manner. He was also used to Severus' looks, most of them intrigued when he said something the other man had not considered before, or when they were having a battle of wits, and Blaise managed to challenge Severus. The way Severus looked at him, was different to the way his Master would look at him. When Severus changed the role, his gaze became more possessive, more admiring, there was a sensuality and an erotic undertone, that Severus never allowed himself. This judging gaze, however, was rather uncomfortable. Especially as both his mother and Severus certainly had different expectations of him.
"He is indeed very capable," was all Severus finally said.
His mother nodded again and returned to her breakfast. "With that out of the way, let's talk about something more exciting. How do you like your pregnancy, sweetheart? And how is life in general treating you? I must say, I am very happy to have read that you will be living here again. I always worried what would become of the estate run only by the elves."
"Forgive me mother, but I think that so far there is very little likeable about this pregnancy, so far. My appetite is appalling, most of the time I have trouble keeping everything I eat down, my sleep has become troubled, and my joints ache as if I am prematurely aging," Blaise stated, taking umbrage with the phrase his mother used. Never to mention, with the conversation. He was part of it, but not sure what it meant.
"The wonders of motherhood. I never thought you would get to experience it this directly. Certainly not with how much you always liked the French ladies, and have them keep you company."
Blaise wondered what his mother thought she would achieve with such a comment. His Master once had him tell him about his sexual escapades, and also told him about his own. It had been an interesting night in many regards.
"Considering that this pregnancy was not planned, and that I did take the potion so highly recommended by you, I can assure you that I also never thought for a moment, that I would find myself in this position," Blaise simply answered.
"The important thing is that you and the child will be healthy and happy. As the matriarch, I have to say, I find it reassuring that there will be a next generation. Maybe, in time, you will consider another child," his mother replied.
Blaise was astonished how smoothly she had ignored the whole potion issue. It was these discussions, that reminded Blaise how lucky the world was, that his mother thought politics too much work. This entry was originally posted at https://smirkingcat.dreamwidth.org/303685.html comments will be seen sooner over at @lj