Soon All the Suns Will Rise

You Are the Reason I Stay Alive

Chapter title/song video from "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. Sorry if this song's a little much but it just makes me think of Snape. And he's basically married to a goddess, so it just fits.

Explicit sex warning, end of chapter.
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The early afternoon sun was beating down on Severus Snape as he sat in a Muggle garden chair on the private beach down the cliff from their home. It was truly a scene he never thought would exist. And he wasn't sure he wanted it to. He wasn't that fond of the feeling of the sun on his skin; it felt unnatural, like he was sweating on the inside. He'd donned a thin white linen shirt and gray drawstring pants, refusing to wear any bathing attire, unlike his roommates who weren't the least bit shy in laying their bodies nearly bare as they frolicked in the waves.

Rhiannon barely wore a stitch of fabric, and out of all of them, she had the best natural tan. The sparkling gold triangles barely covering her beautiful form were the only thing that made this outing worth it, in Severus's mind. She of course had insisted he come along, although he was equally as insistent that he be allowed to bring a book. It had to be a Muggle book, in case there were spies nearby.

Colleen had suggested her copy of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground from her days studying philosophy at university. The Underground Man was currently lashing out at the prostitute who had paid a visit to his home after their previous encounter at a brothel. The whore had been enthralled with him and his theories on the flaws in their utopian society, and now she was confronted with the harsh reality of his impoverished, dreary existence while visiting his apartment. Embarrassed, the Underground Man lashed out at her even as she held and comforted him, telling her he'd only ever sought to conquer and humiliate her. She was persistent and refused to abandon him in spite of his best efforts to push her away, and he eventually broke down and lamented his own flaws and misery, ending with the sorrowful declaration of, "They—they won't let me—I—I can't be good!"

Snape slapped the book shut. That was well enough of that.

"Hey, there, Severus," Lupin greeted him in a cheerful tone, taking the chair next to him as he grabbed his canteen of water. Even the werewolf had decided to bare his skin that particularly warm summer day, apparently paying no mind to his exorbitant amount of body hair and multitude of scars. His pregnant wife was wearing an embellished black and pink one-piece, her hair now blonde for the occasions of Potter's birthday party and Bill Weasley's wedding—today and tomorrow respectively. She was laughing and chasing Ben and her cousin along the shore.

Rhiannon and Colleen swam playfully with their hands joined, the latter looking like a vintage pinup girl in her navy sailor-striped, high-waisted two-piece and bright red lipstick, her reddish blonde hair pinned in a braided updo with curls framing her face. Black's wife was rather lovely, for a Muggle. Snape could admittedly see why Black and Rhiannon were so enthralled with her. Having escaped the pursuit of his son and his cousin, Black now joined the other two women in the water, his hands smoothing over the generous curve of Mrs. Black's hips. Rhiannon was laughing with her hands placed slightly higher on the Muggle's waist. Black pulled teasingly at the witch's hair and dove underwater, daring her to chase him.

Snape frowned. They really ought to show more restraint in front of the child. And everyone. The three of them practically oozed desire when they were together.

"Hello, Lupin," Snape finally replied. "Looking forward to rolling out the red carpet for Potter's coming-of-age celebration this evening, I presume?"

"As much as I can, I suppose. It's all laden with a bit of guilt, with Sirius not being able to be there. See how he's acting out there? That's what he does. That's how you know it's tearing him up inside. He thinks with his...well, you know...to avoid thinking about the pain."