Author: Mosh
Fandom: Harry Potter

Title: Buying Silence
Pairing: Snape/Black
Rating: PG
Summary: Snape puts Sirius in a difficult situation.
Disclaimer: These boys belong to J.K Rowling. No money being made, no copyright or trademark infringement intended.
A/N: Pre-slash with a bit of snark, as it should be. 370 words.

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

"What the fuck are you getting at, Snape?"

"I want you to buy my silence."

Sirius's hand slid to his hip, ready to pull his wand out of his pocket and hex the ugly bastard into oblivion. God, what a thought - bits of Snape all over the walls. Snape surveyed him grimly from the other side of the room, arms folded across his chest - he didn't make a move. He didn't even look scared.

Shit! Fuck!

"Or I'll tell them all. What would your pet werewolf think of that, hm?"

Sirius genuinely contemplated killing Snape right here and then. But how would he explain it? He had only just started getting used to not being in Azkaban. "You wouldn't. I'd see to that."

Snape nodded, but not in agreement. The bastard looked as smug as hell. "Black, what you and Potter used to get up to in this house, though disturbing, is of little consequence to me, personally. But Lupin... do you think he could handle the knowledge?" He shook his head slowly. "You and Lupin were together while you were at school, after all. Weren't you?"

Sirius paled; the house seemed to close in on him - all those secrets smothering him, crawling over his skin. His hand tightened around his wand, but it shook, too.

"How did you find out?" He gritted his teeth, barely able to get the words out.

Snape said nothing, but looked casually around the living room at Grimmauld Place, eyes sweeping across the walls.

And then Sirius got it.

The utter fuckers!

He spun around and glared at the portraits, one by one. All of them were pretending to be asleep, but their postures were far too rigid to be in true slumber.

"I only need eye contact to be able to use Legilimency," Snape said quietly. "They only need memories for me to steal them."

Sirius pictured the house falling in a crash of wood and rock. And a screaming, burning Snape trapped within its crumbling foundations.

"My quarters, tomorrow, midnight," Snape said with triumph. "I'll leave my floo channel open for you. I hope your tongue is as well trained for licking as it is for insulting me, Black. Good night."

~Fin~