009 ∫ Seeking and Finding

[selfless_stag]

Characters: James Potter and Severus Snape
Location: Wherever James finds Snape
Time: Whenever James finds Snape
Style: Any/All
Status: Closed

It took James a few days to sort everything out about his little sleep. He's missed Christmas it seemed but he managed to be with his friends over the new year. All the while, his conversation with Sirius played on his mind. The conversation about Snape.

So that morning, he could take it no longer. He dressed, left Lily a message and kiss, and left the house in search of his previous enemy. He'd also remembered to take his wand and SFC but hoped he didn't need either of them.

Comments

[selfless_stag]

"Yeah. He would. He's Sirius' boyfriend."

James noticed the rub but didn't mention it. It was quite obvious what it was and he thought it better to leave the matter well alone.

"So what exactly happened to you? If you don't mind me asking. I know some of Harry's life after my death but you're a different story."

[halfbloodalways]

That got an eyebrow raise out of Severus. "Didn't know Black swung that way. Interesting." He could not care less about Sirius's preferences in dating. He just found the news to be just that - interesting.

"Why does my life interest you?"

An intensely private man, Severus was not one to give up details of his personal life on a whim. And, as far as he was concerned, his whole life was private - why he had kept to himself all those years at Hogwarts both as a student and a teacher.

[selfless_stag]

"Me either but he apparently does. Took me a long time to like to guy too." He knew Snape didn't ask for the information but he saw no harm in giving it all the same.

"Why should it not?" James sighed. "All jokes aside, we're stuck here. Together. Now we can go back to school and hex each other every week or we can get to know each other and a good afterlife. I know which one I would prefer."

James knew Snape was a private man, but maybe, just maybe, he could get through now they were both dead. It was a long shot but hey, what did he have to lose?

[halfbloodalways]

Severus crossed his arms, gaze leveling again on James. "I have no desire to hex you. However, that does not mean I want to be 'best friends'." The older wizard honestly could not see the benefit of letting James get to know him - or vice versa.

"What do you gain by this? Hmm? More information on your son? More information on how it all turned out? If you've got a personal stake in 'getting to know me' then state it and knock off the pretense that you want to be friends."

It was a gruff rebuke but it wasn't without merit. The last time they had talked all James had really wanted to know about was Harry. And there had been no love lost between them when they were in school. Severus firmly believed James had some angle on this and was trying to figure out what it was.

[selfless_stag]

"I never said best friends. I just don't see the point in being enemies any more."

James sighed, running his hands through his hair and making it messier.

"What I gain is you. Nothing more. Nothing less. You arrived here as dead as I am so I thought I might as well try. I'm got nothing to lose."

[halfbloodalways]

"Neither do I. However, just because we're not enemies doesn't mean I want to share anything besides space with you."

You're not Lily, James. You'll have to work a lot harder to get Severus to open up to you. So would Sirius. In fact, the only of the Marauders the old wizard might talk to was Lupin but as he wasn't around there was little point in considering that option.

[selfless_stag]

James nodded. "I'm not saying we're going to like each other over night. But who knows how long we're going to be here. And dying again isn't on my list."

There was a small pause as James considered his next move. "Just tell me you'll think about it?"

[halfbloodalways]

"Not by a long short," he grumbled to the comment on them not liking each other overnight.

The comment about dying got James a glare. "Did I say I was going to kill you?" Truth was Severus hadn't killed him the first time. If Pettigrew hadn't gone turn-coat everyone would have lived.

"I'll take it under advisement."

[selfless_stag]

James nodded at his last statement, ignoring everything else. "That's all I'm asking. Just think about it."

Then he stood, turning to go back to the house. "Guess my work here is done unless you've got anything to say...or do?"

[halfbloodalways]

"Why did you seek me out? I would have thought you, of all people, would want to either kill me or ignore my existence entirely - especially since you know what you do now."

Severus eyed the other man suspiciously. Was he really trying to make a fresh start of sorts? "You made it very clear over the span of seven years that you wanted nothing to do with me exception of exchanging hexes. How does death change your point of view?"

[selfless_stag]

"Those seven years were at school. We were kids. Children. Nothing more than emotion. But I grew up. Got married. Had a son. Turned my brain on." He smirked at the last one. "Who knows? Maybe this would have happened anyway if I hadn't died. Or maybe it was just death that gave me this perspective."

He bit his lip, thinking. "It's hard to explain. I guess I thought you would simply understand. Being dead too..." He shrugged, hoping that was a good enough answer and if not, trying to find the words he needed.