Author: Starkindler

Pairing: HP/LM; HP/DM very much implied

Rating: NC-17

Warning: Character death and a mention of MPREG; however, it is merely a brief mention and I go through none of the pregnancy/birthing process.

Disclaimer: Harry, Lucius and the gang don't belong to me. *sob* They belong to JK Rowling and I get nothing for this, other than my own weird pleasure from writing this.

This fic is part of the 'Beloved Enemies' Harry/Lucius Fuh-Q-Fest (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarryxLucius/).

Response to challenges:

30. Lucius opens the Daily Prophet one morning and reads an article about the Boy Who Lived being gay. And Lucius is very happily surprised because this fits right into his plans (Maeglin Yedi)

41. Harry visits Sirius and Remus during Hogsmeade weekend. Remus can smell another man on Harry but he isn't sure who it is. When Remus visits Flourish and Blotts the next week and runs into Lucius Malfoy, things suddenly become very clear. How does Remus react and does he decide to tell Sirius or confront Harry? (Maeglin Yedi)

101. Write a fic using, and based around, the line: Love your enemies just in case your friends turn out to be a bunch of bastards." (Selene la Luna)

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Thanks to my wonderful beta Dru, who wishes me to alert you that you will need hankies for this…I forgot to warn her and I'm still hearing about it *wink* so…YOU NEED HANKIES!!!!!!!!!

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Enjoy the book, Potter. Happy birthday.

Draco Malfoy

P.S.

Remember what I told you before… Love your enemies just in case your friends turn out to be a bunch of bastards.

Harry let out a ragged sigh and closed the book. He closed his red, swollen eyes as he clutched the small book to his chest. He took a few deep breaths, trying to get his emotions under control. He thought about going to get a potion to rid himself of his headache from Professor Snape, but then he remembered that his professor was gone for a while.

He sat down on the chair by his fireplace heavily, still clutching the book. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe Draco was gone.

Draco Malfoy, his once hated nemesis turned friend, was dead. It had happened two days ago and he still didn't believe it. If anyone should believe it, it was he.

Harry had been there in Hogsmeade and he saw the rogue Auror, who had gone completely and utterly insane, murder the three Slytherin boys.

Harry had managed to kill Draco's attacker when the man turned to kill him for interfering, but it was too late for the boys.

Harry had run to Draco's side. The two others were already dead, and Draco was nearly so. Whatever spells the Auror had used, they promised a quick, but not instant death. He wanted them to suffer a bit, and Draco had been the last one hit.

Draco had asked Harry to tell his father that he loved him. He also asked him to tell his godfather, Severus Snape, the same thing. When he said his good-bye to Harry, Harry kissed his friend gently, wanting Draco's last memory of the world to be something nice, to leave with the knowledge that he was loved by someone. Harry had loved him. They had become close on a camping/hiking expedition gone wrong during the summer between his fifth and sixth year.

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{Flashback}

Voldemort had finally been defeated once and for all, in large thanks to both Malfoy men. So Dumbledore decided to celebrate by having the older pupils, next year's sixth and seventh years, take a little trip together…to North America, no less.

He persuaded all the parents that this was just what their children needed, and with most of the staff and parent volunteers, they ended up somewhere in the western mountains of the United States. Armed with little knowledge of their surroundings, the children were let loose in groups of two or three to explore, provided they didn't leave the area. Each child had a tracking spell so they couldn't be lost, and they were allowed to use magic if necessary. As an extra precaution, Professor Snape had ordered that every child learned the correct spells to conjure food, water, and a Weather charm to keep warm, just in case they did manage to get lost.

Harry desperately didn't want to be paired up with Ron and Hermione. As much as he loved his friends, if he had to spend as much as an hour with the Snogging Duo, he would have committed suicide right then and there. Since Ron and Hermione had started dating, they were no longer the Golden Trio, as they had been known. The lovebirds were oblivious to Harry most of the time. They never knew when he left or when he came in. He once even went up to them and told them that Madame Pomfrey had discovered that he had cancer and only had six months to live. He didn't even get a first glance, much less a second one.

So, he had gone up to Professor Snape, who wasn't nearly as bad now that he was no longer a spy and the weight of his impending demise was removed, and he had begged his professor to pair him with anyone but them. Of course, his professor still had his malicious sense of humour, and he was paired Harry with none other than Draco Malfoy.

Draco felt much the same as Harry did, except his problem was slightly different. His two bodyguards, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, had followed his lead in defending the side of the Light in the War. They had lost their parents, and were now under the care of Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, until they turned eighteen. Now floating in a sea of uncertainty, Crabbe and Goyle clung to his side at every available opportunity. It wasn't that Draco didn't like the two boys. They were dumb, but they were loyal. But Draco knew that if he had to spend one more minute on this trip with them, hexes were going to fly and tears were going to flow.

So Snape, in all his benevolence, gave him Harry Potter.

Needless to say that while both young men got along well enough during the War, they still couldn't stand each other in the general aspects of life. So off they went, sending back evil glares at their Potions professor. They bickered and snipped at each other constantly, all the while travelling further and further away from their camp. They found a cave and baited each other into exploring it.

Big mistake. The cave entrance was unstable at best, and when Harry yelled at Draco for trying to trip him, the cave entrance collapsed, effectively trapping them inside.

Once the dust had cleared and they discovered that they couldn't get out, they started yelling at one another again, arguing about whose fault this was. They spent two days together in that cave, since the tracking spell didn't work well through solid rock. They started out arguing but ended up chatting about their lives in general, their hopes, their fears and their secrets. After all, they could only argue for just so long about the same things they'd argued about for the last five years before becoming bored.

After forty-nine long hours, they were found and they came out of the cave as friends. They spent the rest of the trip together, getting to know each other, much to the horror of Ronald Weasley. In fact, Harry and Ron's friendship had been virtually nonexistent since that day.

Luckily for Harry, he was made prefect that year and obtained his own room. All throughout their sixth year, Draco and Harry spent a great deal of time together. They also learned the art of sexual pleasure together.

They weren't 'together' in the strictest sense, since they each had boyfriends from time to time, but when they were free, they didn't think twice about exploring their sexuality together. They had both agreed that pursuing a deeper relationship with each other while in school wasn't the best idea, and that if they felt the need for a deeper commitment after school ended, they would pursue that avenue slowly. They had finally forged their friendship after so many years, both were loath to give it up by rushing headlong into something so serious.

Both had been virgins at the time they decided that sexual exploration with each other would be amenable, and they had checked out all the books they could find on the subject from the library. Madame Pince had glared disapprovingly, but they had just given her their brightest smiles and walked out with their book.

Draco's father had given him stern lectures about giving up any kind of control to someone else, especially sexual control. This being said, Draco had been hesitant at first to allow Harry to top him, but when he saw how much Harry was enjoying his position as the one being taken, curiosity got the best of him. The first time he felt Harry slip his cock up his arse and hit his prostate, he knew he'd found heaven.

While he didn't let Harry be on top often, he had enjoyed it thoroughly each and every time. He sometimes wondered if his father knew what he was missing.

{End Flashback}

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Harry hadn't been in love with Draco, yet, but he had loved him, and kissing his friend goodbye had just felt right.

And this tender little moment was now plastered all over the front page of the Daily Prophet, along with an article on Harry's sexual preference. And in the corner was a small article about Draco Malfoy. Harry couldn't be angrier than he was right now. He had sent three Howlers to the Daily Prophet already this morning, one of them containing his subscription cancellation. Despite all of Draco's efforts in the War, he still was only thought of as the son of a Death Eater.

Harry walked over to his desk and picked up the picture. He'd cut it out of the newspaper and ripped the rest of the horrid tabloid to shreds. The picture itself had taken up half the page and was in full colour. It showed the kiss, the tenderness and love of the moment…and it showed Draco Malfoy's last breath in this world.

Harry placed the picture in his photo album when tears wet his cheeks once more. He impatiently wiped them away. He needed to be strong. As Head Boy and Draco's friend, he had asked to be the one to pack Draco's things for Lucius Malfoy. He knew the house-elves would do a good job, but he wanted to do it. Dumbledore had given him permission, not that he would have done otherwise. After all, it was he who wouldn't allow Harry to go to the funeral today. Too much of a chance for an attack, by either a remaining Death Eater or another Auror who was angry with the Boy Who Lived for killing a kindred, Dumbledore had explained to him.

Yes, well, the Boy Who Lived wasn't too happy with the headmaster. In fact, the Boy Who Lived wasn't happy with several people right about now.

After Draco's body had been brought back to Hogwarts and the announcement had been made, Harry had run into Ron in the hallway. Ron had given him a look that said, "So what? It was just a dirty, underhanded Malfoy."

He got the same sentiment from all his former roommates, and almost all of the Gryffindors saw him as a traitor to his house for simply becoming friends with the beautiful blond. The only ones he could actually call his friends were Hermione and Ginny. At least they were considered his friends until yesterday morning.

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{Flashback}

They were all at breakfast when the Daily Prophet arrived. Professor Snape had 'insisted' that Harry eat, which was translated to mean 'eat or I'll cast an Imperius on you and force you to eat until you burst".

Harry had given his Potions master a heartfelt smile. Since his loss of popularity in his own house, Snape had taken him under his wing, albeit reluctantly at first. Finally, after all they had been through together, they had managed to forge a bond of mutual respect, admiration, and even fondness. Harry thought Draco might have had something to do with it, but he wasn't going to press his luck by interrogating Snape.

They were having breakfast that morning, as has been said, and the newspaper arrived. Harry's was delivered, but he was too upset to look at it, especially in front of everyone else. He didn't want to get angry or cry in front of them.

He could hear the gasps and whispers of all those around him. He wondered what all the 'shocking, just shocking' was all about, and he didn't have to wait for long. Ginny Weasley screeched when she saw the paper. She had still had hopes that Harry would catch a hint or two and discover that she was waiting patiently for him, but all that was dashed when she saw the kiss right there in the paper, and an entire article on Harry's, her Harry, preference for his own sex.

She got up, her eyes blazing. Harry looked up questioningly as she stalked towards him and threw the paper on his plate of food that he wasn't eating. "I can't believe it! I understood when you wanted to be friends with that Slytherin, but this? I cannot believe that I've wasted all my time and energy on a…a…"

"Arse-bandit?" Ron supplied as he popped a piece of his roll into his mouth. "I always thought as much. Should've known you two were shagging. Everyone knows what a bloody slut Malfoy was."

Harry stood up and focused all his anger towards his former best friend. He promptly went over to Ron and slammed his fist into his face, breaking his nose. Harry then turned and came face to face with an angry Hermione. He calmly stepped around her, picked up his copy of the paper, and walked out of the room. He could hear her coming up behind him. He turned to face her in the empty hallway.

"You and Draco?" Hermione asked angrily. "Harry, that's just wrong. Two men are not supposed to like each other that way. That's not right. I can't believe you would be like that. That's disgusting!"

Harry merely raised an eyebrow, giving Hermione a look that Severus had given him hundreds of times over the years. "Really? Then maybe you should find another boyfriend, Hermione. After all, Fred and George are not only gay, but they're doing each other."

Hermione glared at him. "I don't believe you!"

Harry sighed tiredly. "Of course you don't. Who would believe it? Maybe I wouldn't either if I hadn't walked in on them a few times here and at the Burrow. But since they feel pretty much the same way everyone else does, and have bought my share of the WWW so they wouldn't have to associate with me anymore, just because I was a friend with Draco, I really don't care who knows. Tell the whole world, or better yet, put it in the Daily Prophet. Besides, do you really think that Draco and I are the only two gay males in this school? Use your narrow-minded brain, Hermione."

"I don't believe you!" Hermione yelled, turning around and stomping off to help Ron to the hospital wing.

{End Flashback}

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That was yesterday and this was today, the day of Draco's funeral, the day that all traces of the blond beauty would be erased from Hogwarts. Crabbe and Goyle would be buried tomorrow. They had died defending their leader to the very end.

Harry pulled himself together and walked out of his room. He walked to the Slytherins' lair and gave the password. He was allowed inside and he greeted all the Slytherins that sat in the common room. They greeted him sadly, still deep in mourning for losing three of their own. Unlike the Gryffindors, the Slytherins had taken in their long-hated rival, out of respect for their unofficial leader. Since their leader's fall, they'd thrown their support behind Harry, especially after the article in the Daily Prophet. Harry seriously regretted asking to be sorted into any house besides Slytherin. He vowed that he would wear his Slytherin side with pride, despite his Gryffindor ties.

Harry trudged up the stairs and into Draco's room. He looked around the familiar room and burst into tears again. He cried freely as he pulled Draco's trunks out of the closet. He slowly packed all of the Slytherin's clothing, books, school supplies and books, and personal effects.

He found the pictures of Draco and himself from the last year and a half. They were taken all over Hogwarts, and in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. The Slytherins had taken them, and Harry noted once again, that their friends surrounding them were all Slytherins as well. It made him both angry and sad that all of his friends had 'turned out to be a bunch of bastards'.

He sat down on the bed and looked through the pictures. Draco waved happily from many of them, blowing kisses at him playfully. Then he came to the pictures no one else had seen but the two of them. An automatic camera took them. They were of the two of them snogging mostly, but a few of the pictures were just them sharing a personal moment. Yes, Harry knew that he could have loved his friend very much indeed. It wasn't that no one could see them, it's just that they were pictures for just the two of them. Harry pocketed the pictures. He would put them in an album with his letter.

He finished packing and then lay down on the bed, waiting for Mr. Malfoy and Professor Snape to come back from burying his best friend.

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Lucius Malfoy sat at the dining room table all alone, trying to put something in his stomach. He was to bury his only son this day, and he didn't want to embarrass his son's memory by fainting dead away in front of everyone from lack of food.

He eyed the copies of the Daily Prophet lying next to his plate. He hadn't read yesterday's Daily Prophet, since he spent most of it mourning the loss of his son. Now that Narcissa was gone, he was all alone. He almost wished that the Potter boy had allowed him to die during that final battle.

His eyes grew dark with anger and desire for revenge when he thought of Harry Potter. He was livid at the boy. How dare the boy live and his son die? How dare he not save Draco? He knew the boy was there when it happened, and he allowed his son to die. He allowed Crabbe and Goyle to protect Draco, but he didn't lift a finger until it was too late.

Lucius sipped his tea and munched on his muffin. He would get even with the boy, but how? He didn't just want the young Gryffindor dead…he wanted him to suffer. He wanted to hurt him in every way possible.

Lucius thought on it while he sat back and opened yesterday's edition of The Daily Prophet. His eyes grew wide as he looked upon the scene in the picture that graced half the page. His son was lying in Potter's arms, and he watched as the Boy Who Lived kissed his son gently. His throat grew tight with emotion as he watched his son take his last breath. The scene repeated itself and Lucius forced his gaze away from the sight. He looked below the picture and saw the headline: "THE BOY WHO LIVED IS GAY!"

Lucius read the article with interest. It seemed that the boy had been keeping his preference a secret from his family and friends. Lucius smirked. It wasn't a secret any longer.

As he took another sip of his tea, an idea started forming in his head. Oh, it was too perfect. What better way to get even with the Potter boy than hurt him emotionally, before going in for the kill?

He looked at the smaller picture in the bottom left-hand corner of the front page. The picture was a close-up of Harry Potter, giving the camera a shy, yet seemingly annoyed, smile.

The boy was beautiful, there was no doubt in Lucius's mind about that. He would have no problems feeling a physical attraction to the boy. He just needed to form a strong plan in order to get the Boy Who Lived interested in him, romantically.

Well, he had time enough for that. It wasn't as if he had anything important or pressing in his life. His son was dead. And once the saviour of the wizarding world was dead, he didn't care what happened to him. They could give him the Dementor's kiss, or just kill him outright. At least he would have the satisfaction in knowing that Potter would never see another birthday, or another Christmas. He would never have children, or have a lover that truly loved him.

But working on his plan would have to wait. Today, he had to bury his son.

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"Harry, wake up."

Harry groaned slightly as his eyes fluttered open. He shot up in the bed when he realized where he was and who was in the room with him. "Hello, Severus. Hello, Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius and Severus watched the young man jump off Draco's bed and straighten his robes.

"Sorry about that," Harry said. "I finished packing, and I wanted to wait for you, but…" Harry trailed off, not wanting to admit that he had been crying so much that he'd cried himself to sleep.

Lucius and Severus said nothing, pretending not to notice the red, swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks, and let the boy have his dignity.

Harry scrubbed his face with his hands. "Mr. Malfoy, I have packed all of Draco's things for you. Severus, can I talk to Mr. Malfoy for a moment?"

Severus nodded and headed for the door. "If you wish to talk, Harry, you know where to find me. Lucius, I will speak with you soon. Come to tea on Friday?"

Lucius nodded. "I'll be there."

When Severus left, Harry turned to Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy-"

"Call me Lucius, Harry," the blond said, deciding now was as good a time as any to start the foundations of his plans.

"Lucius, I can't tell you how sorry I am about all this. Draco was such a good friend to me. I wish there was something I could have done to save him."

Lucius bristled inwardly, but on the outside he smiled sadly. "There was nothing you could have done. I know you two were great friends. Draco would talk about how much you two got on together."

"When Draco…" Harry swallowed the lump in his throat and tried again. "Draco asked me to give you a message. He told me to tell you that he loved you very much."

Lucius turned away and closed his eyes. "Thank you, Harry." He turned and smiled sadly at Harry. "I loved my son, very much. I shall miss him."

Lucius sat down on Draco's bed and motioned for Harry to sit beside him. Harry sat down and Lucius put a supportive arm around Harry. "We'll have to be strong. We cannot allow others to see our weaknesses. Draco told me about the way that your house treated you once they discovered your friendship with my son. Don't let them see your pain. They'll use it against you, just like they used your friendship with Draco against you. There are those who think that homosexuality is wrong, and they will try to crucify you for it. Be careful who you trust, Harry."

"Thank you, Lucius. Don't worry, I will be careful."

"Good. Now, I must go, but if you need anything, or just need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to write. You're always welcome at the Manor. I'd truly enjoy the company, now that I'm the only one left."

Harry nodded. "I'd like that, Lucius. Thank you."

"Why don't you join Severus and me for tea on Friday? I'm quite sure Severus would not mind."

"All right. I'll make sure Severus is okay with it. I'll see you on Friday." Harry watched Lucius get up and shrink the trunks carrying Draco's belongings. He followed him out of the room and they parted ways at the top of the dungeons.

Lucius made his way slowly to the front door. This was going to be much easier than he thought. The Potter boy was so trusting. Potter trusted that he, Lucius Malfoy, had his best interests at heart, simply because he was the father of his 'best friend'. Well, he was going to show Harry Potter exactly what an ex-Death Eater was capable of.

As he walked down the path to the edge of the anti-Apparition wards, a smile so evil spread across his face it would make any Dark Lord cringe with fear. Oh, yes, he was going to enjoy his revenge quite a lot.

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Harry knocked on the door to Severus's private chambers on Friday, after classes were over. Severus opened the door and ushered the young man inside. Lucius was already there, sitting in a chair by the fire. Harry sat in 'his' chair, as he had come to think of the middle chair. Severus had added the comfortable chair when Draco and Harry became friends, and Harry, just like Draco, had become a permanent fixture in his rooms when he needed a haven from his 'friends'.

"How are things going, Harry?" Lucius asked, taking the cup of tea offered to him by the Potions master. "Thank you, Severus."

Harry winced and took the cup offered to him. "Thanks, Severus. It's been awful. I didn't realize how many people were against homosexuality. I mean, I knew that some weren't all that thrilled with it, but I never knew there was such hostility about it, at least in the wizarding world. I know what happens in the Muggle world, but here…" Harry trailed off, sipping his tea.

"What has been happening?" Lucius asked.

Harry sighed and sipped his tea. Severus answered for him. "He's had the Gryffindors blow up his potions in the two classes he's had since the article came out. The one earlier today sent him to the hospital wing with burns. Luckily they weren't severe, and Pomfrey was able to rid him of the burns quickly. I'm going to speak to Albus this week about giving Harry his lessons privately. There is no way he can stay with them constantly harassing him. Those idiots could end up hurting someone terribly, and I won't have it. Of course, none of them will admit to their behaviour. I know that Miss Granger was in on it as well. She has been most vocal of her displeasure for Harry's sexual preference. I fully blame her Muggle upbringing."

Lucius frowned. "I agree. Removing Harry would be best. I don't want them harassing Harry. Insipid Gryffindor brats. Where's their sense of loyalty and courage when it's needed?" Lucius was irritated. He didn't want those pathetic excuses for Gryffindors ruining his plans. At least the Gryffindors of his time would own up to their pranks when necessary. Lucius had hated James Potter and his cohorts, but at least there was something admirable to be found about them, little as it may have been. The Gryffindors of today should take notes. "If anything is needed, let me know. Remember, I am a governor of Hogwarts." Lucius had been hired back after Voldemort's demise. He had been sacked during Harry's second year, after nearly getting Dumbledore removed as headmaster.

Harry gave Lucius a surprised glance. He was intrigued by the vehemence in the older man's voice. "I'll do that, Lucius. Thank you."

Lucius gave Harry a dashing smile. "At least you'll benefit from the one-on-one tutelage with Severus. You'll be the top of the Potions class before you know it."

"Now, Lucius, I wouldn't go that far," Severus admonished. "Granger may be a bigoted idiot, but the bookworm's work is quite adequate. She's my top student."

Lucius waved a dismissive hand. "If she spent half as much of her time ridding herself of her prejudices against someone she's supposed to consider a friend as she does studying, she most likely wouldn't be. Now Harry here strikes me as a rather smart young man. I know that he did well in his sixth year. Draco went on about how Harry was third in your class, behind Draco and that Mudblood."

"Aye, you're right, Lucius. He did exceptionally well last year. Perhaps there is hope for him yet," Severus admitted with a small twinkle in his eye.

"Oh, ha ha, Severus. I'm so glad you have such faith in my abilities," Harry chuckled. "I'm truly blessed."

"Of course you are. After all, I allow you to invade my space, so you certainly can't be all that disagreeable." Severus smirked as Harry stuck his tongue out at him. "No thank you, Potter. As agreeable as I now find you, it's strictly platonic. Save it for someone else."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm so depressed. Let me go and throw myself off the Astronomy Tower right now."

Lucius watched the back and forth banter with a measure of amusement. He and Draco had been the same way, and he was already missing it. His amusement turned to confusion when he watched Severus stare worriedly at the young man after Harry's last comment.

"Harry, that's not funny. I know how upset you've been since Draco's death. I don't want to hear something like that coming out of your mouth again, or you'll find yourself cleaning cauldrons for a month," Severus barked.

"Oh, come off it, Severus. It was a joke and you know it. I'll admit that Draco's death has been hard for me, but I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't lower Draco's estimation of me. He always thought me better than that, even when we couldn't stand each other. I've been spending the last year trying to figure out why that was."

"I agree with Severus, Harry. This is not something to joke about, especially if you've been feeling depressed. Severus is only looking out for your best interest." Lucius would be damned if he were going to let a little thing like depression interfere with his plans.

"Fine, I won't do it again. Talk about being paranoid," Harry muttered.

"We simply care, Harry," Lucius insisted.

"I know. I'm sorry," Harry said, giving both wizards a small smile.

"How are you doing, Lucius?" Severus asked, directing the conversation away from Harry, for which Harry was extremely grateful.

"I'm trying to keep busy. I try not to think too much, but everywhere I turn around in the house, I see something that reminds me of my little dragon."

"I feel the same way. I knew Draco from the day he was born, and I have a hard time going into the Potions classroom or into the Slytherin dorms. How is work at the Ministry going?" Lucius served on the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures at the Ministry of Magic.

"Fine. We've found some rather nasty vampires about ten miles outside of Bristol. They killed ten people before they were found. The Department has to decide what to do with them. They were most uncooperative when the department went to contain them."

Severus smirked. "I can imagine. Vampires do tend to be temperamental. Anything else exciting happen?"

"Nothing much. There was an insane werewolf outside of Dublin that had to be put down."

Harry bristled at the callousness of the comment, which didn't go unnoticed by either of the Slytherins. Lucius spoke up first. "Harry, I know that your godfather's lover is a werewolf, but I also know that he's safe. He takes his Wolfsbane and he doesn't go out of his way to harm anyone. The werewolf in question was completely wild, and he's killed two people and turned three more. We've been looking for this one for over a month now."

Harry relaxed and nodded his understanding. "I just don't like Remus being grouped in with others. I know he tried to kill you, Severus, but you and I both know that it wasn't his fault. It was Sirius's fault, and Remus is really sorry about what almost happened."

It was Severus's turn to bristle, but he acknowledged the validity of Harry's argument. "I agree that what happened wasn't Lupin's fault, but you can understand why I find his presence distressing, particularly in werewolf form. You also know that your mongrel godfather and I are never going to get along."

Harry smiled. "I know. I don't expect you to. It still irritates him that I come to you with my problems instead of him. But he has Remus, and when I'm with them, I sometimes wonder if they even realize I'm there. They're making up for so much lost time that they really don't have time for me, especially Sirius. Remus tries, but there's not much he can do. Sirius only really notices me when I bring up your name."

Lucius snorted. "I hate to be the one to tell you, Harry, but Sirius has always been self-absorbed, ever since he entered Hogwarts. He was gorgeous and he knew it, and he used it to his advantage every chance he could."

Harry laughed. "I know. Severus tells me this all the time."

The three kept each other company for a while longer. Finally, Lucius said, "I should be going. I have much to do. Severus, thank you for the tea. You must come for lunch at the Manor next weekend. Harry, do come as well. I'm sure you can convince Dumbledore to let you out of his sight for a while."

Severus escorted Harry and Lucius to the door. "I have some work to do in my office. My red ink and quill are craving attention," Severus quipped.

Lucius nodded. "Very well. Harry, would you care to walk me to the gates?"

Harry smiled. "Sure."

Lucius and Harry walked out of the dungeons and through the castle, each ignoring the whispers and the pointing that the other students were directing at them.

When they reached the gates, Lucius turned to Harry. "Don't let them get to you. Be strong and trust in the Slytherins. We take care of our own."

"I know, but it's hard. No one talks to me besides the Slytherins…not even the boys I used to date."

Lucius reached up and trailed a finger slowly along Harry's jaw line. "You're very beautiful, Harry. Don't worry. You'll make someone a bloody lucky man. If they don't want to associate with you, then they don't deserve your time or attention. It's most definitely their loss."

Harry closed his eyes as Lucius trailed his finger over his scar. His body shivered at the intimate touch. "I'll do that," Harry whispered.

"Lovely," Lucius whispered. He dropped his hand and smiled as Harry opened his eyes. "I will see you next weekend, Harry."

"Bye," Harry said, trying to ignore the little flutters he was feeling in his chest.

Lucius turned and walked out of the gates, a smile spreading across his face. /Five points to Slytherin/ he thought to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hagrid looked down at Harry worriedly. "You goin' ta be alright there, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "I'll be fine. I have my portkey that will take me back to Hogwarts after I'm finished here. You go on and have a nice day."

Hagrid still looked worried, but he said nothing and he disappeared. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and walked through the gates, gazing up at Malfoy Manor.

He'd never seen a manor quite like this before. It was huge, larger than any manor he had seen before. It wouldn't surprise him if the Malfoy family had added on over the centuries.

The manor was three stories high, with both oriel and transom windows. It was made of stone, but some wood framing could be seen. Harry wondered how old the house was.

At least he knew where he was. Draco had told him that the manor was located thirty miles outside of Birmingham. He also remembered Draco muttering about how he'd much rather live closer to London. Harry didn't see why. The manor was beautiful in its medieval way, and the solitude suited Harry nicely, kind of like Snape Manor.

While Harry had never been to Malfoy Manor, he had spent three weeks with Severus the previous summer. Remus and Sirius had decided to make their relationship 'official' by getting married, and that included the honeymoon. Well, obviously Harry was not included with that ritual and neither Sirius nor Remus wanted to leave him alone for three weeks. They had wanted him to stay at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore had suggested that Harry stay with Severus.

Sirius had been furious when Harry seemed delighted by the suggestion. He sputtered and moaned, yelled and argued, but all to no avail. Harry and Dumbledore completely ignored him and the headmaster called in Severus. Severus agreed, and Sirius blew up. He screamed at Harry, telling him that all sorts of horrible things would happen and something about human sacrifices, but Harry had yelled right back. He also pointed out that the only place he wanted to stay was at Snape Manor and that if he didn't like it, then he didn't have to go on his honeymoon. Sirius, self-absorbed as he was, decided that Harry wouldn't be brought to harm by staying with Severus.

As he reached the door, Harry chuckled as he realized that Lucius's description of his godfather had been dead on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucius walked down the main staircase as the house elf let Harry in. "Where's Severus?"

Harry smiled wryly. "Dumbledore wanted to try having me in the Potions class for one more week to see if things would calm down. They didn't and a few of the Gryffindors decided to wreak havoc on my potion. Some of the Slytherins retaliated, and they ended up blowing at least ten cauldrons up. Children were hurt, and they half destroyed the classroom. Severus is there, watching over the hurt Slytherins and supervising the Gryffindors who have to clean the entire classroom without magic. As you can well imagine, it's going to take all weekend. I've also been officially transferred to the Slytherin House." Harry told Lucius all this as he walked into the house and sat in the lounge. "I'm also out of the Potions class, permanently."

"Why doesn't their behaviour surprise me? Dumbledore should have heeded Severus's warnings. Well, what's done is done. Would you like to eat outside, or would you rather eat in the dining room?"

"How about we sit outside? It's such a beautiful day today. It seems a shame to waste such a beautiful afternoon."

"Very well. Why don't we go out there now and after we eat, I'll give you the complete tour of the Manor?"

"That sounds wonderful, Lucius." Harry stood and let Lucius escort him through the house. A few minutes after they settled down at the table, the house elves brought their food.

As Harry and Lucius ate, Harry continued telling him about the incident in the Potions classroom. "I can't believe Hermione would jeopardize her grades simply because she doesn't like my taste in partners. Severus was furious. So was Dumbledore. I've never seen him so angry. He spent half of breakfast this morning yelling at the student body for their behaviour, and I do mean yelling. I didn't realize the headmaster could scream like that."

Lucius smirked. "It's about time he did something constructive. Maybe they'll realize it's not best to anger the man. He is more powerful than they are. So tell me how your godfather has adapted to your change of house."

"I think you know, but I'll tell you anyway. He was not happy. I haven't seen him this angry since I wanted to spend three weeks at Snape Manor."

"You stayed at Severus's home? When?" Lucius asked, slightly alarmed. If the boy were involved with the Potions master, it could make his plan much more difficult.

His fears were alleviated when Harry explained about last summer's incident. He asked, "Why didn't you come to Malfoy Manor?"

"You and Draco were off in Asia and Africa. You didn't come back until after Sirius and Remus returned from their honeymoon."

"I see. Well, would you like your tour now?"

Harry smiled and stood up. "Yes, I would."

"Should we start outside, or would you rather look at the house first?" Lucius asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "Let's start out here. It's too nice of an afternoon to waste."

"Very well. This way," Lucius motioned to the path on their right. As they walked down the pathway, Lucius kept the palm of his hand fixed on the small of Harry's back.

Harry tried to concentrate on Lucius's words and not where Lucius's hand was rubbing against the small of his back. He wasn't succeeding all that well. He'd been having strange thoughts about his best friend's father ever since that afternoon by the gates. He wasn't all that sure what to make of it. He had to admit that the man was certainly gorgeous, and he was most definitely interesting. But it was Draco's father, and he shouldn't have these thoughts.

"Harry, are you even listening to me?" Lucius asked with mild amusement. He'd noticed the boys distraction and when Harry blushed at being caught daydreaming, he felt positively gleeful. So his little gestures were having the desired effect. The Potter brat was going to be the easiest assignment he'd ever had. He only wished Voldemort's tasks had been so simple.

"Sorry. I guess I got lost in thought there for a minute. You were saying?"

Lucius gave him a small smile. "I was asking if you wished to see the horses," he said, motioning toward the stables to their right.

"I'd love to. Draco wanted me to-" Harry sighed sadly, his mind drifting to his friend as it had every moment of every day since his death.

"What is it, Harry?" Lucius pressed, eager to hear anything about his son.

"Draco wanted me to teach him how to ride a horse," Harry said. "He wanted me to spend time here next summer, before we figured out what it is we wanted to do with our lives. I miss him."

Lucius pulled Harry to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "So do I. Come, let's go see the horses, and you can tell me where you learned how to ride a horse."

Harry smiled wistfully. "It was an accident of sorts. My cousin Dudley-"

"The one killed by Voldemort?" Lucius interrupted.

"Yes, that one. He needed to learn to ride a horse for school, for some daft reason or another. The Dursleys didn't want to leave me all alone at the house, not trusting that I wouldn't use my magic to turn it to dust, so I was forced to go along. While they were trying to find a horse that he could ride, I decided to have a look around. One of the instructors saw how Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were treating me, and he took pity on me. He took me to another field and while Dudley was having his lesson, he gave me a lesson of my own, free of charge. Then when the time was over, he gave me a couple of pounds and told Uncle Vernon that I had helped him around the stables. Uncle Vernon believed him, and when the man told him to bring me back when Dudley had a lesson, Uncle Vernon agreed. He thought I might be useful after all, at least for a few pounds. That's how I learned to ride horses."

"I still can't believe that Dumbledore forced you to be brought up by those awful Muggles. How horrible it must have been," Lucius muttered.

"Maybe so, but they didn't deserve to be tortured by Voldemort," Harry replied.

Lucius sighed. He didn't agree, but that point of view wasn't going to ingratiate him to the -now- young Slytherin. "I understand, but we cannot change what's passed. Here we are. Aren't they beautiful animals, Harry?" Lucius asked, rubbing his hand across the bridge of a white Andalusian's nose.

"Yes, they're magnificent," Harry agreed, his attention caught by a solid black Arabian. "Do you ride?"

"No, I don't, at least, not often. These animals simply fascinate me. But I have learned to ride horses."

Harry looked at him curiously. "Why don't you ride? You have some wonderful horses here," he said, looking around the large stable. Lucius owned a magnificent collection of horses: two white Andalusians, the solid black Arabian, a chestnut Arabian, a brown Latvian and a Palomino. "How can you not be tempted to?"

Lucius shrugged absently. "I guess I never saw the point, when one can simply Apparate, Floo, or use a portkey."

Harry shook his head. "There's nothing quite like riding a horse. You should try it sometime, and really give it a chance."

Lucius cocked his head to the side, studying Harry. "Perhaps I will do that sometime…that is, if you would join me?"

Harry blushed slightly under Lucius's scrutinizing gaze. "I'd like that very much. I love to ride, and I don't get to do it often."

"Then it's settled. How about next weekend? I'll speak to Dumbledore, and perhaps we'll be able to get Severus out of those dreary dungeons," Lucius offered, knowing full well that Severus wouldn't step within ten feet of a horse. A horse had stepped on Severus when he was a young child, which resulted in his foot being broken in several places. He hated horses after that.

Lucius realized Harry knew that when he started giggling. "I don't think we'll get Severus on a horse any time soon. When Draco and I asked him to join us, we had to dodge a few hexes," Harry informed him as they walked out of the stables and back towards the house.

"That sounds like Severus. Now let me show you Malfoy Manor."

Harry raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Even the secret room under the drawing room floor?"

Lucius looked at him sharply. "Did Draco tell you that?"

Harry laughed. "Well, yes and no. Ron Weasley and I took Polyjuice Potion in our second year when we were trying to find out who was the heir of Slytherin. You know, when you gave Tom Riddle's diary to Ginny and the Chamber of Secrets was opened," Harry reminded him.

Lucius gave him a tight smile. "Yes I remember. Albus contacted me and warned me of that raid. I moved most of my things to another location before they came. I don't know how he knew though."

"I told him. Ron Weasley owled his father and told him what we'd heard. After Ron and everyone went to sleep, I made my way to his office and told him what Draco had said. I never told anyone I did it, and at the time I couldn't figure out why it seemed so important that I do it. I guess my instincts were smarter than my brain."

"Obviously. Well, I guess I should thank you. There were many things that…well, it would have been unfortunate if Voldemort had come into possession of them."

Harry frowned. "Something's been bothering me since I found out you were a spy for Dumbledore. Why did you allow the Chamber to be opened?"

Lucius and Harry were now in the library. Lucius motioned for his guest to sit down on one of the couches that graced the centre of the large room. "I want you to understand something, Harry. I've never lied about my dislike of Muggle-born wizards and witches. I do not think that they lack power or intelligence, but I do know that it's dangerous. My argument never was truly about thinking less than worthy of magic, as Voldemort did, but I do think that having them around can be dangerous. The problem is, their parents sometimes slip and tell other Muggles, or some Muggle-borns become careless with their magic once they become adults and they end up exposing our world, not realizing that we could possibly be thought of as a threat. My reason for releasing Riddle from the diary was two-fold. First, I wanted to scare the Mudbloods, thinking that perhaps they would keep silent or possibly leave. Secondly, it gave me the perfect opportunity to show Voldemort that I was loyal to his cause. I had been informed that he was alive but not all that well, and watching, and I didn't want my cover blown. I also knew that you would be able to stop Riddle and the basilisk before any real damage was done. Do you understand?"

"I guess that means you don't like me much either," Harry muttered.

Lucius inwardly cheered his agreement, but to Harry he said, "Not at all. Your Muggle relatives wouldn't have told anyone even if they had the perfect opportunity to do so. Also, you have seen firsthand the narrow-mindedness that they bring into our presence. While most purebloods were against your choice in a friend and a…lover?"

Harry blushed at what Lucius was asking. "We were more like friends…with benefits. After that summer we became friends, we each confessed that we had never been with anyone, so we decided to…practice with each other, I guess you could say."

"I guessed as much. As I was saying, purebloods were against your relationship with Draco, while most of the Muggle-borns were against the homosexuality more than the friendship, am I correct?" Lucius sat back and gazed at Harry as the young man thought about what he said.

Harry thought about all the different people who had a negative attitude toward his friendship with Draco. The more he thought about it, the more he realized Lucius was right. "You're right, Lucius. Almost all of those who were critical of my sexual preference were Muggle-borns. I just never realized it, I guess because everyone but the Slytherins were offended for one reason or another."

"Ignorance can be a dangerous thing, Harry. Just look at what happened this week during your Potions class. Their ignorance is what hurt those students. Enough of this for now. Come, let me show you the rest of the house."

Lucius gave Harry the grand tour, showing him the entire first floor and all the things Malfoy Manor offered. When they came to the second floor, he motioned to the right-hand wing. "This was Draco's wing. I'll let you explore and get to know what my son was like another time. The west wing was Narcissa's, but all traces of her have been removed, and it is now empty. The north wing is mine. Come along." Lucius led Harry down the wing, telling him what each room held and showing him particularly interesting rooms. They came to the room at the end of the wing. "This is my bedroom," he said, pushing the doors open.

Harry stepped inside and let out a small, almost inaudible gasp. The room was huge, much larger than the entire first floor of the Dursleys' house on Privet Drive. To the left was the living area, complete with couches, comfortable, plush chairs, a desk and even a small dining table. To the right was the bed, at least five times the size of the beds inside the Gryffindor dorms. It was made of a rich wood. Harry thought it might be mahogany, but he might be mistaken. The headboard was beautifully carved, with two large serpents coiled around each other, both possessing eyes of emerald. The duvet was the green of the Slytherin House, with thin lines of silver giving the duvet a shimmering appearance.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lucius asked, stepping behind the young man and leaning to whisper in his ear. "The bed has been in the family for centuries. Not quite as old as this house, though."

The little puffs of breath on his ear sent shivers down Harry's spine. "It's very nice," he whispered, unconsciously leaning into the man behind him. When he finally realized what he was doing, he quickly stepped away, blushing furiously.

Lucius was filled with glee. He was having the desired effect on the boy. He had thought it would take more time than this, but no matter. It only made his life that much easier. "Nice? That's a word not usually associated with Malfoys or their belongings," Lucius mused.

Harry blushed again. "The bed is beautiful. Whoever designed and created it was bloody talented."

"Yes he was. Oh my, look at the time. Shouldn't you be going back to Hogwarts? We don't want you to be late. Dumbledore may not let you return, in case it becomes a habit."

Harry looked at his watch and sighed regretfully. "You're right. I best be going."

"Come, let me walk with you," Lucius said, holding out his hand for Harry to take.

Harry took his hand and allowed Lucius to lead him out of the bedroom. He thought Lucius would release his hand as soon as they left the room, but Lucius kept his grip firm. While they headed downstairs, Lucius told him that the third floor was mostly used for storage now, but it was once used for a rather large Malfoy family, back when the manor housed not only the parents, but the children, their spouses, and their children as well.

Harry smiled wistfully. "I've always wished for a large family. The only family I have consists of a godfather and his husband who either ignore me or scream at me for the people I choose to spend time with."

Lucius squeezed his hand. "I can't speak for Severus, but you can always count on me."

They reached the door and Harry turned to face Lucius. "Thank you. I had a lot of fun today. Thanks for inviting me."

"You're welcome here any time. And I meant what I said. You can count on me." Lucius reached up with his free hand and caressed Harry's cheek softly. "I'd do anything for you."

Harry blushed furiously. "I'd better go. Dumbledore will be worried if I'm late."

Lucius nodded and pulled back. "I'll speak to Albus about next weekend. Goodbye, Harry."

"See you next weekend, Lucius." Harry walked out the door and down the pathway. Once he reached the outer edge of the wards around Malfoy Manor, which wouldn't allow use of Apparition or portkeys within, he pulled out the portkey and activated it.

As he hit the floor of Severus's lounge, he fought the urge to chuck up. He shook his head and took a deep breath.

"A graceful entrance as always," a voice behind him sneered.

Harry turned around and smiled. "I'm always at my most graceful for you, Severus. So how is the cleaning going?"

"Terrible, and magic cannot be used to clean the room," growled Severus. "Bloody imbeciles, the lot of them. There were so many ingredients being thrown about the room that about fifteen potions were mixed. The room is volatile enough without adding even more magic to the mix. So, how was lunch?"

"Quite nice, actually. Malfoy Manor is beautiful."

Severus smirked. "I take it you liked it better than my manor?"

"No. I like Snape Manor, too."

"Oh, so it's the company, then. Lucius was always the charming one, worthy of adoration."

Harry, to his horror, turned scarlet. "Ha-ha. Severus, you know I adore you," he purred quickly, hoping to cover the annoying heat rushing to his cheeks.

Severus saw it, but kept quiet. If it were something Harry wished to share with him, Harry would do just that. "How kind of you to say so. Now go and tell Dumbledore you've returned."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" Harry asked. He had just finished his one-on-one Potions class with his professor. It was Friday afternoon, and he was scheduled to go to Malfoy Manor tomorrow. The headmaster had given permission for Harry to go riding with Lucius. Harry was looking forward to it, but there was still something that was troubling him.

"Of course you can, Mr. Potter." Severus always called him 'Mr. Potter' during class, and that hadn't changed because the lessons were now private.

"This isn't a 'Mr. Potter' kind of thing, Severus," Harry said.

"Fine. Why don't we clean up and then we can talk in my chambers over a cup of tea?" Harry nodded and they silently cleaned up Harry's things.

As soon as they sat down with their cups, Severus asked, "What's on your mind, Harry?"

"I have a little problem. I think I kind of have a crush on someone."

Severus's brow furrowed. "I don't see how that's a problem, Harry."

"It's who it is that's the problem," Harry replied. "I've been thinking about him a lot lately, and I know that what I'm feeling is different from friendship."

"How do you think Lucius feels about you?" Severus chuckled when Harry looked at him sharply. "I thought so. Did you honestly think I didn't notice that blush on your cheeks when I mentioned him?"

"No, but I was hoping." Harry sighed deeply and sat back. "All right. Go ahead."

"Go ahead and what?"

"Tell me how wrong it is. Tell me that Lucius is twice my age. Tell me how I should find someone closer to my own age. Tell me that he's not good for me. Tell me all the things that are wrong with him."

"You mean tell you all the things your godfather would say? I think not. Like it or not, I am a little more broad-minded than that mangy mongrel you've attached yourself to."

"So you think it's not wrong for me to have these feelings about Lucius?" Harry asked, ignoring the little stab Severus took at Sirius.

"No, not if the feelings are genuine. Are you sure that it's Lucius you're feeling for and not Draco? I know how hard Draco's death has been for you."

Harry shook his head. "I've been thinking about that all week. What I felt for Draco was more of a physical attraction. This is different. I mean, he is attractive, but I've always noticed that and never thought anything more about it, but now that I've started spending time with him, talking to him, I've come to feel something more…deeper. Am I making any sense at all?"

"Yes, you are, but don't you think you should have more that two conversations with the man before diving in?"

"Give me some credit, please. I know not to rush things, and I have talked to him more than that. Well, not talked, but we've owled each other several times this week. He's worried about things here. Besides, this entire discussion may be wasted, because I have no idea if he feels or could ever feel anything for me."

"Lucius is a hard person to decipher. He always has been, ever since we were in school. I can tell you that he is capable of love, no matter what anyone says of him. My suggestion is to wait for him to make the first move. He is a predator in the matters of the heart, quite dominant, and if he wants you, you'll be the first to know." Severus chuckled. "Many of his lovers in school didn't know he was coming until he literally pounced."

Harry grinned mischievously. "Tell me, Severus, did he ever pounce on you?"

Severus laughed. "Yes, I was a victim of the affections of Lucius Malfoy. He's one of the few people I've ever cared about. We didn't last long, since neither of us is easy to handle, but we've been close friends. Our closeness is what ultimately led him to spy for Dumbledore; that, and his desire to keep Draco from the insanity of Voldemort. Voldemort was quite insane after he was resurrected, I'm afraid, and his punishments were much more severe. Lucius didn't want Draco to be subjected to that kind of harm."

"I can understand that. So you think I should sit back and wait for him to pounce, if he's going to?"

Severus nodded. "That's exactly what I'm telling you. He likes the pursuit of his prey, so to speak. Just do me a favour, Harry, and be careful. I don't want to see you come to any harm. Don't fall too much in love until you find out if he's interested. I don't want your heart to be broken on top of everything else."

"I'll be careful, Severus. I promise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Let's stop and eat here," Harry said, bringing Necromancer, the black Arabian he'd admired the week before, to a halt. He jumped down and grabbed the picnic hamper that was attached to his saddle.

Lucius jumped down from Draco's white Andalusian, Shadowfax, and helped Harry spread the blanket out. Then he sat back and watched Harry pull out the food. "I'd never known that riding could be so tiring," he said. "But it's worth it to spend such a glorious day as this one out of doors." Lucius meant it, too. He was enjoying himself, and was quite happy that Harry was warming up to him so nicely. He'd decided to take his vengeance as slow as necessary, and a day like today was a perfect day to weave some more strands of his web. "Are you having fun, Harry?"

Harry nodded and smiled. "Yes, I am. I wish Draco was here to enjoy it, though. I miss him."

"As do I," Lucius said softly, staring out across the moor. Draco would have loved to do something like this. He snapped back to the present and found that Harry was gazing at him, sadness staring out at him through those green orbs. "Is everything ready?"

"Yes. The house-elves outdid themselves," Harry said, handing Lucius a plate.

While they ate, Harry went into more detail about the things that had been happening at Hogwarts, and Lucius told Harry about the latest problems in the Ministry.

Harry shuddered when Lucius told him that his department had to put down another werewolf. "I'm so glad that Severus makes the Wolfsbane for Remus, and that he'd never want to harm someone."

"You must understand that the werewolves we usually catch are those who enjoy the kill. They take great pleasure in harming others, and that has to stop. I know it makes those who are like Lupin seem as if they're just as horrendous, but unless we get rid of these particular monsters, those like Lupin will remain ostracized."

"Can't they be helped? The Wolfsbane Potion makes Remus harmless. Why wouldn't it work for them as well?"

Lucius shook his head. "It wouldn't work because they wouldn't take it, and besides, it isn't easy to find someone who can make the potion. It's not easy at all to make. These werewolves enjoy the bloodlust, the need for killing, and the desire to rip a human to shreds. We've tried it before, but it never works on these animals. Many times these people kill while in human form as well. But I wouldn't worry about that now, Harry. You still have many, many years to make a difference, if you choose to do so. But enough about school and work; I want to know about you. What were the Muggles you lived with like? I know that they were your mother's family, but not much else. Draco never mentioned anything about them to me."

Harry grimaced. "There's good reason for that. My Muggle family hated anything to do with magic, and they despised me. I slept in a cupboard under the stairs until I was eleven. The only reason that they gave me a room upstairs was because they were afraid that someone in the wizarding world might harm them if they didn't. That, and they were scared I might use my powers against them."

"Why didn't you leave if they were so horrible?"

"Oh, that would have gone over brilliantly, don't you think? Use magic illegally and get myself expelled from Hogwarts, that's what would have happened. Your house-elf, Dobby, nearly got me in trouble when he used magic in my uncle's house before my second year."

"The house-elf you managed to trick me into releasing from my service?" Lucius questioned, his eyes narrowing into small slits.

"That would be the one," Harry replied nonchalantly.

Lucius chuckled. "That was quite cunning of you. Most would not have thought to do what you did."

"Yes, and you nearly cursed me for it," Harry reminded him.

"Aye, I remember that. What can I say? You irritated me by robbing me of my house-elf. Well, what's done is done. That insane elf drove me mad, and I'm better off without him. Tell me, do you like living with your mu-…I mean, your godfather?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, at least most of the time I do. Sometimes Sirius and Remus are all over each other, and seeing my godfather and his husband groping each other is not my idea of entertainment." Harry stood up and held out his hand. "Come on. Let's go for a walk and you can tell me about your childhood. I want to know a little about you."

Lucius accepted Harry's help in rising and the two walked with no particular purpose while Lucius told him about growing up in Malfoy Manor. Lucius deemed it a safe subject and decided that this was one instance he could actually be truthful. "It was an interesting experience, growing up in Malfoy Manor. As you can imagine, my father was quite interested in the Dark Arts. His interests were forced onto me when I was but a young child, at a time when I would rather be playing hide-and-seek with my older sister or the house-elves."

"You have an older sister?" Harry interrupted.

"Aye, I did. Her name was Alexa. She died when she was eleven, before she was to be accepted to Hogwarts. It was during a raid on Malfoy Manor. Aurors were looking for Dark Arts books and items, but they found none, and a particularly young and nervous Auror threw a rather nasty curse at my sister when she surprised him by coming into the room he was in. They were on the third floor, and the curse blew her curse he used, but it hindered her natural magical protection, and she broke her neck."

"What happened to the Auror that killed her?" Harry asked.

Lucius laughed, but there was not trace of humour to be heard. "He was 'reprimanded' by the Ministry and suspended for a month."

Harry stared at him in shocked disbelief. "That's IT? He was suspended for killing a little girl and nothing else? Don't tell me your father left it at that!"

Lucius shook his head. "No, my father was furious and heartbroken. He'd loved her very much, more than he loved me, in fact. He wanted that man killed for what he'd done, and when it didn't happen, he vowed to avenge my sister. I don't know what he did, but I do know that young Auror disappeared not too long after he returned to work, and he was never seen again."

"That must have been hard for you to lose a sister like that," Harry said, squeezing Lucius's hand.

"It was. I was only seven at the time, and I couldn't understand what had happened. After that, however, my training in the Dark Arts stepped up. By the time I went to school, I knew all the simple curses, and I had knowledge of the complicated ones, though I was still too young and not powerful enough to execute them."

Harry grinned. "You must have been the darling of the Slytherin House," Harry teased.

Lucius eyed him slyly. "As a matter of fact, I was. I am a Malfoy, after all. The only one who came close to my level of knowledge in the Dark Arts was Severus. That's initially why we became close friends. We would sit around at all hours comparing notes, so to speak. During our summers we would practice and study and then when school started again, we would show each other what we'd learned. While we both knew that most people disliked the Dark Arts, we never had any true idea why. At least we didn't until our fathers introduced us to Voldemort. After that, there was no going back, even if we'd wanted to." Lucius looked at Harry curiously. "How much has Severus told you about his first dealings with the Dark Lord and his initiation?"

"Not much," Harry answered honestly. "He doesn't like to talk about what happened. He doesn't discuss it unless there is a dire need, and even then it's like pulling teeth to get him to speak in the subject."

"That doesn't surprise me. I know he still has nightmares from the things he's done. There's gentleness to Severus that very few people have ever seen, and you have to dig deep to find it. He was forced to do things he's deeply ashamed of, and some of the things he had to do were horrible. I'm not going to tell you what he had to do though. That's up to him whether or not he wants to tell you. You see, he's very protective of his feelings, and most of the time he comes off looking like either a cold-hearted bastard or a half-sane psychopath." Lucius smiled when Harry chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, Harry. He is both those things, more often the former than the latter, but he does have a heart underneath that icy exterior."

Harry nodded. "I know he does. If he didn't, do you think he would be tolerating me, even if Draco did have something to do with it? I know there's a good heart in there. It just took me a while to find it. His 'cold-hearted bastard' persona has been showing up quite a bit the last two weeks. The Gryffindors finally finished cleaning the Potions classroom, and Severus has started teaching in there again. The Gryffindors are terrified of him, and not just the seventh years."

"I don't know what else they expected, blowing up potions in Severus's class. You'd think they'd learn by now that the man has a temper that very few can match up against."

"What about you, Lucius?" Harry asked.

"What about me, exactly?"

"You told me that Severus had to do terrible things. What about you?"

Lucius stopped and turned to face Harry. "Harry, I'm only going to tell you this once. I'm not a nice person. I never have been, and I never will be, especially to those that I don't like. Did I have to do terrible things? Yes, I did. Did I enjoy doing some of those things? I'd be lying if I said I never enjoyed it. Some of those that Voldemort ordered dead were not good people either, and they deserved the torment that they received. Did I enjoy killing other people? No, I did not. I've never enjoyed killing another person. Tormenting? At times, yes, but never killing. Did I enjoy raping others? No. I prefer that those I take to my bed are willing to be there. I don't enjoy forcing myself on another. But the fact remains that it was either do those things or risk the wrath of a man who enjoyed all of those things immensely. Quite frankly, it came down to those people or myself, and I'd rather save myself and let those nameless people bear the brunt of a madman's wrath."

Harry eyed Lucius. "You think I don't know all this? When your son and I were trapped in that cave, what do you think we did for the first twelve hours or so? We argued, and you were one of the main subjects we argued about. You explained all this to your son long ago, and we argued back and forth for at least two hours, trying to convince each other that the other was wrong and we were right."

"And what was the conclusion that you two agreed upon?"

Harry laughed. "That neither of us were completely right, and the other did have very good points. I know you're not a 'nice' man, but you're not evil either. You've done horrible things, but you also helped rid the world of someone who would have wreaked havoc than even I cannot imagine. I don't like that you did the things you did, but I'm not going to hate you for it either. I know that your life was at risk, and Draco's life. I won't stop being your friend because of it, just like I won't stop being a friend to Severus."

Lucius sighed. "I'm glad you feel that way. I would have hated to lose your companionship, but I had to be honest with you about this. I-" The sound of thunder interrupted Lucius. Both men looked up to see a storm coming their way.

Harry scowled. "I thought they said it wasn't supposed to rain today."

"Well, they were wrong," Lucius replied. "I think we'd better head back, and fast. Otherwise, we're going to get caught in this storm."

Lucius and Harry ran back to their picnic area. They quickly packed everything back in the hamper and mounted their horses.

The storm proved faster than their horses, and by the time they reached the stables, both were soaking wet. They handed the horses over to the house-elves that were in charge of the stables.

Harry grinned. "I guess we'll either have to wait this out or run through the rain to get to the house."

"No, we don't. Come along." Lucius led Harry to a trap door. "This goes down to a tunnel that leads directly to the house." He handed Harry a candle and they carefully navigated the steps.

Halfway through the tunnel, Harry tripped over a rock. Lucius caught him easily. "Be careful. We don't want you breaking that pretty little neck of yours, now do we?"

Harry stuck his tongue out at him, but he didn't protest when Lucius took his hand. They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Lucius led him out of the tunnel and into a laboratory. Harry looked around and realized that it was a laboratory for potion making. "Do you make many potions?" he asked.

Lucius nodded. "I don't trust just anyone to make potions for me. I do all those that I am able to create, and Severus does those that I cannot do. After all, there are many people that would love to see me dead. Come with me and I'll get you a change of clothing while the elves clean your clothing properly."

Lucius led Harry up to his bedroom and handed him a robe. "Wear this for now. You can change in there," he said, pointing to a bathroom. "Leave the clothes on the floor. The house-elves will be up to get them."

Harry stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. He looked around for a moment, admiring the large room with a double shower and a huge marble tub. There were also two basins, each with golden faucets. Mirrors graced the bathroom walls and the floor was white and spotless.

Harry quickly shed all his clothing and dried himself with a large, fluffy towel. He put on the robe and exited the bathroom. He looked toward the huge closet and his jaw hit the floor as he was gifted with the sight of Lucius Malfoy without a single stitch of clothing on his body.

Lucius was searching for a robe and he didn't seem to notice that Harry had come back into the room. Harry took the time to admire the other man's body. Lucius Malfoy was not overly muscular, but he was nicely put together. He had a broad, slightly hairy chest and a trim waist. His stomach was still flat and his arse was still firm and round.

Harry's eyes ran down Lucius's well-toned legs and then travelled back up again. Harry's eyebrow arched in surprise as his eyes came into contact with Lucius's half-hard cock. He admired the cock for a moment. Lucius was perfectly endowed. He was not too large, so that it would hurt every time he penetrated someone, but he wasn't small by any means.

Harry wrenched his eyes away from that intriguing part of the blonde's anatomy and continued his way upward, until he looked straight into the eyes of the man he was staring at.

"See something you like?" Lucius asked, his amusement dripping off every syllable.

Harry blushed furiously and turned away. "Sorry," he mumbled, cursing himself inwardly.

"Whatever are you sorry for?" Lucius asked pulling on a robe and walking over to Harry. "I'm flattered that you would find something about me that you could appreciate."

"I shouldn't have been staring at you, especially without you knowing. I apologize."

Lucius chuckled and wrapped his arms around Harry's chest, pulling the young man to him. "Of course I knew you were watching me. I've made a career out of knowing everything going on around me. I heard you the moment you walked out of the bathroom."

Harry felt Lucius shift his hips, lightly rubbing his erection across his arse. Harry released a low moan and pressed back into the other man. He shivered as he felt Lucius's warm, wet tongue slowly trail the shell of his ear. "Do you want me, Harry?" Lucius whispered. He pulled Harry's earlobe into his mouth and sucked gently.

"Yes," Harry hissed, his eyes rolling back into his head from the pleasure the other man was evoking. He could feel his blood rushing downwards, pooling in his groin.

Lucius released Harry's earlobe and nibbled a trail down to the base of Harry's neck. "Do you want me to make love to you?"

Harry turned and wrapped his arms around Lucius's neck. "Yes," he moaned, kissing Lucius behind his ear.

"I was hoping you'd say that," Lucius whispered. Lucius pulled Harry's glasses off and threw them on the table nearby. He brushed his lips lightly across Harry's jaw line and pressed his lips to the young wizard's.

Harry moaned and pulled Lucius as close as possible. He opened his mouth to Lucius and sucked in his lover's probing tongue. As their tongues slid together, teasing and probing, their hands pulled impatiently at their robes.

Robes were quickly discarded to the floor. Lucius guided Harry backwards toward the bed, ignoring his lungs' silent screams for air. He pushed Harry onto the bed.

Harry held onto Lucius's neck with one hand, backing himself up towards the head of the bed as Lucius climbed on after him. He lay down, pulling the other man on top of him.

They broke their kiss, gasping for air. Harry wrapped his legs around Lucius's waist and lifted his hips, rubbing his aching erection against the blond's.

Lucius gasped at the sensual grinding of their bodies. He snarled as he possessively claimed his young lover's mouth again. Tongues slicked together sensually, each of them craving the taste of each other as a lost man in a desert craves water.

Lucius reluctantly ripped his mouth away. He stared down into bright green eyes that were dilated with desire and lust. He traced the scar on Harry's forehead with one finger. Though the Dark Lord was gone, the scar had remained. "Are you absolutely sure you want this, Harry?"

"Yes, I do." Harry practically purred the words.

Lucius hissed and his eyes closed with pleasure as Harry trailed his fingernails in little intricate patterns across his back. Lucius forced his eyes open and he stared into the eyes of the young man pinned underneath him. "Be certain. I must tell you, I am extraordinarily possessive of my lovers, and I will not tolerate anyone trying to invade my territory. Those who do so take their lives into their own hands."

Harry gazed into the lust-filled eyes above him. He cupped the grey-eyed beauty's face and pulled him into a searing kiss. "Take me already!" Harry panted wildly. "I want you to possess me."

Lucius grinned triumphantly as he slowly slithered down Harry's body. He flicked his tongue deftly over one nipple and then the other, relishing the shivers he sent through Harry's body.

Harry whimpered with loss as Lucius abandoned his nipples. His breathing grew heavier and more ragged as he felt Lucius's tongue dive into his navel. He reached out to clasp the duvet, to ground himself in the present. He licked his dry lips, tasting the saltiness of the light tinge of sweat forming on his upper lip.

Lucius trailed his tongue down the thin line of hair to the patch of wiry hair nestling Harry's happily weeping erection. He licked the little drizzle of liquid, enjoying the tangy taste. He heard Harry cry out, and he smiled. "I like the way you taste, Harry. I would love to taste you some more, but I have other plans for you today."

Harry whimpered again, but it quickly turned into a loud shout as the sensation of his balls being sucked into his lover's warm, moist mouth made his prick jump with joy. Harry shoved himself up onto his elbows and looked into the amused eyes of his lover, who was gently fondling his sacs with his tongue. "That was unexpected," Harry said, laughing loudly.

Lucius released Harry's balls and smiled. "I can see that. Accio wand." He reached out and caught his wand. "May I?" he asked.

Harry nodded. He wiggled as he felt the tip of Lucius's wand enter his hole. He heard Lucius mutter a spell, but he couldn't quite make out the words. He started giggling as he felt the spell working inside his body.

Lucius laughed. "This spell never fails to make the recipient laugh. I've been told that it tickles."

Harry sniggered. "Yes, it does. That's an interesting little spell. Where did you find it?"

"The Restricted Section, of course."

"Oh," Harry mused. "I guess I haven't seen that book."

"Not unless you can read Old English," Lucius said.

"That explains it." Harry giggled again as the spell made a final pass. "It sure cuts out a lot of extra time in the loo, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does make it easier. The wonders of magic never cease to amaze me. There's a spell for everything, if you simply take the time to look for it," Lucius told Harry as he placed a pillow underneath Harry's hips and spread his legs wide.

Harry lay back on the pillows and closed his eyes, allowing himself to enjoy the feel of Lucius's tongue flickering over his hole. He gasped at the feel of the tongue pressing into him ever so slowly, just a bit at a time.

Lucius wiggled the tip of his tongue while penetrating Harry. He pushed a little harder and felt his lover's tight ring suck him in deeper into Harry's body.

Harry pressed his body onto the probing tongue. "More," Harry whimpered, reaching above him and clasping the edge of the mattress tightly.

Lucius took his time tongue fucking the young Slytherin, keeping an eye on Harry's reaction. When Harry's sacs started drawing up closer to his body, he pulled out of Harry's hole and pulled Harry's balls back.

Harry half-growled with impatience and half-cried with need for release as Lucius backed off, letting his lover cool down. When he was sure that Harry wouldn't come, he slithered back up Harry's body, placing a kiss on the tip of Harry's prick and lightly biting a nipple.

Harry glared playfully at him. "I was so close. That wasn't very nice."

Lucius kissed him on the tip of the nose. "I told you that I'm not nice. Besides, did you honestly think I was going to let you have an orgasm without me?"

Harry watched Lucius call for a jar on the chest of drawers that was across the room. "Well, when you put it that way," he teased.

Lucius smirked as he scooped out some of the gel. He rubbed it all over his aching cock and positioned himself at Harry's entrance. He quickly pushed the tip into Harry, stopping when he heard Harry hiss.

Harry winced at the mildly painful burning. The pain subsided as Lucius rocked his hips, pulling out and pushing in an inch or so at a time, until he was fully sheathed. Harry wiggled impatiently, wanting to feel the dick he had been admiring from afar only minutes earlier thrusting into his body.

Lucius pulled out and slowly thrust back in, relishing the sensation of a hot, tight body caressing his prick once again. It had been entirely too long since he'd felt this kind of pleasure. He really would have to find a new lover once all this was over…perhaps Severus would want to give their relationship another go. He pushed all thoughts aside and lost himself in the physical sensations.

Harry shifted his position, bringing his legs closer to his chest, allowing Lucius to plunge into him even deeper. He cried out as his lover changed his angle and brushed over the one spot that could turn him into a babbling idiot in a split second.

Lucius leaned down and caught Harry's lips in a searing kiss, combining his own moans with Harry's incomprehensible babbling. He felt the pressure starting to build, his body reaching its climax, and he grabbed Harry's neglected erection firmly and stroked in time with his thrusts, rubbing his thumb over the tip as his strokes reached the head.

Harry's head thrashed back and forth on the silk-covered pillow, profanities and words of adoration mingling and escaping his lips in an incomprehensible string of sentences.

Harry cried out his release at last, his sacs tightening and his body clamping down on Lucius as his spunk spurted out and dripped down his lover's hand and onto his chest.

Lucius growled when Harry clamped down onto his cock. He thrust into Harry almost savagely until he saw stars explode behind his eyelids. He released his seed inside Harry and collapsed on top of his lover. After a few moments of hard breathing, his mind cleared enough to remind him to roll off the young man underneath him.

After a few minutes more, Harry pulled himself up enough to grab Lucius's wand, He muttered a Cleaning Spell and then curled up beside his new lover. He smiled sleepily. "That was fun," he murmured.

Lucius kissed his forehead and wrapped his arms around Harry, pulling him as close as possible. "Yes, it was. We'll have to do that again."

"I can't come next weekend. I've pressed my luck with Dumbledore as it is."

"I agree. If you keep asking he won't let you, because it's not fair to the other pupils. There's nothing that's keeping me from visiting you at Hogwarts, however," Lucius told him. "I can always use Floo powder to get into Severus's rooms. I have clearance to use Floo powder to come into Hogwarts."

"If that's the case, you can just come directly to my room." Harry thought for a moment. "Wait a minute. If you can enter Hogwarts through the fireplaces, then you can use them to get back out. Why have you been going through the school and past the wards just to Apparate?"

"Simple, really. I don't like to use Floo powder if I don't have to. I don't enjoy that form of transportation, but for you I think I can make an exception."

"Just come directly to my room then. That way, no questions will be asked," Harry said sleepily.

Lucius watched Harry as the young man slept. He smirked. Now that he had Harry in his bed, it was only a matter of time before he got Harry to fall in love with him. Once that happened, he would crush the young man. He'd thought he had blown it when he admitted that he'd enjoyed some of his tasks as a Death Eater, but Harry had surprised him.

He tried to think of the last time that he'd felt the pleasure of shoving his cock into another man's body…when it hadn't involved rape and torture. It had been a while, and he hadn't realized how much he missed it. He looked at the young beauty beside him. It would be too bad when the time came to destroy the boy beside him, but he would enjoy the shagging while it lasted. After this unpleasantness was done, perhaps he should give Severus another go, or find a new lover that he could care about…if he was still alive after killing the Boy Who Lived, that is.

He continued to watch Harry as he slept, stroking the young man's wild, untamed hair lightly. Lucius could readily admit that this man beside him was beautiful, smart and witty, if a little too trusting. He thought that he might have even liked the wizard if it had been under other circumstances, but the fact remained that this boy had not saved his son when he could have and for that he must pay, like that Auror who killed his sister paid.

Lucius let Harry sleep for an hour before waking him up. He smiled when the young man's eyes slowly opened and little green pools full of emotion looked back at him. "You have to get up, Harry. It's starting to get late, and you need to return to Hogwarts."

"Do I have to? It's so comfortable here," Harry whined groggily, snuggling closer to Lucius.

"Yes, you have to, but I'll come to see you very soon." He showered little kisses all over Harry's face and neck. "I promise I'll come within the next day or two."

"Oh, all right. Where are my clothes?" Harry asked, reluctantly sliding off the bed. He stretched and grimaced a little at the soreness in his arse. It had been awhile since he'd been taken. The day before he died, Draco had broken up with the boyfriend he'd started dating during the summer, so he and Draco hadn't been together since school ended. Harry hadn't any luck finding a boyfriend over the summer.

"They're over there," Lucius replied, pointing to a chair.

Harry walked over and slowly dressed. Everything had been cleaned and pressed, all traces of their race through the downpour gone. Once he was fully dressed he felt Lucius come up behind him and wrap his arms around his waist.

Harry turned and snaked his arms around the neck of his still-naked lover. He kissed him gently, not a kiss of wanting or needing, but a kiss of real affection and tenderness.

Lucius responded to the kiss, pulling Harry closer. He reluctantly let go and handed Harry his glasses. "You need to go. I promise that I will see you soon, no more than three days from now."

"I hope so," Harry replied, kissing him again. A bolt of lightning hit nearby and Harry grimaced. "It's still raining."

"Here, use Floo powder," Lucius said. He took his wand and muttered a few incantations, unlocking the fireplace for Harry to use.

Harry took a handful of powder, kissed Lucius and stepped into the fireplace. "Severus Snape's chambers," he yelled.

Lucius stared at the empty fireplace, a smug, superior smile gracing his lips. "Well, that went well," he muttered to himself. "Now all I have to do is get Potter to fall in love with me…that shouldn't be too hard."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus looked up from the paper he was grading when Harry came flying into the room. "Graceful as always, Potter."

Harry made a face at him. "You can't dampen my spirits, Snape. I've had a wonderful day," he said cheerfully, running over and throwing himself into his professor's arms.

Severus embraced him awkwardly, not used to any kind of affections being bestowed upon him. "What's happened that was so wonderful?"

Harry pulled back and flashed a smile so bright that it lit up the room. "He pounced!"

Severus burst out laughing. "No wonder you're in such a good mood."

"Yes, I am!" Harry exclaimed, placing a kiss on his professor's pale cheek. "He's going to come see me in a few days, since I most likely won't be allowed to go to the manor again soon."

Severus looked at Harry seriously. "Not to put a damper on your cheeriness, though I do find it rather disturbing, but what are you going to do about your godmutt? There are only three people in this world that your mangy godfather hated more than me, and Voldemort and Pettigrew are dead. Black despised Lucius Malfoy, and even Dumbledore never forced them to work together during the War. How do you think you're going to go about doing this?"

Harry scowled and thought for a moment, ignoring Severus's name-calling. "I guess I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I'll have to think about it, but Sirius is not going to be happy."

"That's an understatement if I've ever heard one. You'll be lucky to come out of your godmongrel's house alive. I'd suggest you put it off as long as possible, making sure that you and Lucius are serious about each other first. You don't want to risk losing your family for something that doesn't work out."

Harry grinned. "As usual, you're right."

"Was there ever any doubt?" Severus asked smugly.

Harry ignored him. "I'll stall as long as possible. It shouldn't be too hard. I only see them for an hour when we're allowed to go to Hogsmeade, and I'm staying here at Christmas, so-"

"For Merlin's sake, why are you staying here this Christmas?"

"Sirius and Remus are going to Japan and Australia in December, and they'll be gone the entire winter holiday."

Severus looked at Harry, anger making his eyes shimmer. "They're going off during your break again? I thought that mangy canine was supposed to at least pretend that he considers you family, and he's leaving you here?"

Harry shrugged. "I know that he doesn't love me, not really. He tried to care for me out of a sense of duty to my father, and I know he hoped that I would be like James Potter, but I'm not. I know he's disappointed in that. I think that he feels his duty is done, now that I'm nearly out of school and nearly 18, and because Voldemort and Pettigrew are dead and I'm alive. I know that Remus is more important to him. I'm used to being alone Christmas holiday anyway."

"That is not the point," Severus growled, but he let the subject drop. "So did you actually ride horses today or did you two just make a lunge for the nearest bedroom?"

Harry was not amused. "Very funny. Yes, we rode horses, and we had a picnic by the moors near the manor. It was very pleasant until we were caught in a storm. We were soaked and we went up to his room to change. I came out of the bathroom and Lucius was standing naked in the closet, looking positively scrumptious, and it progressed from there."

Severus held up a hand. "That's far enough. I do not want any details. Now you'd better go shower and change for dinner," he said, aiming Harry toward the door and shoving him out of it. Harry laughed, shook his head and ran down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**********************
Three months later
**********************

Harry leaned down and caught Lucius's mouth in a searing kiss. Their hands clasped and their fingers entwined as Harry rode his lover. Harry's head fell back and both his heartbeat and his breathing grew more rapid as he increased the speed and the force of his movements.

Lucius thrust his hips upward to meet Harry's body as well as he could. He loved it when Harry rode him. Lucius wasn't as young as he used to be, and this position took the pressure off his body and allowed him to enjoy fucking Harry even more.

Harry cried out his lover's name as he climaxed, his spunk squirting onto his chest and dribbling down his stomach. Lucius came right after him, the clenching of Harry's body around him making it impossible to do anything else.

Harry slowly pulled off his lover and rolled off the side. Lucius spooned up behind him and wrapped his arms around the young man. As Harry fell asleep, Lucius thought about the situation he'd got himself into.

Three months had gone by since Harry and Lucius had come together. In that time they had 'grown closer' as Harry called it, though Lucius still wasn't quite sure what it was Harry felt for him. That wasn't the problem, however. The problem was that he didn't know how he felt about Harry. In the beginning it was all so simple, straight to the point. He would make Harry fall in love with him and then destroy the young man both emotionally and physically. The problems arose when he started finding the young Slytherin quite agreeable to be around.

Lucius stared at the top of Harry's head, listening to the young man's heavy, steady breathing. He had always known that the boy was beautiful and that he had a certain amount of wit and intelligence about him, but he'd been unprepared for how charming, generous and kind he was. Put all those together along with the great sex, and Harry was nearly irresistible to Lucius.

How many times he had caught himself daydreaming about Harry, Lucius did not know, but it aggravated him that he had allowed this young man to fly under his radar and worm his way under his skin. Lucius had to keep reminding himself why he couldn't become too attached to the young man, and those reminders were becoming more and more frequent. If Lucius scared easily he would be terrified at the mere thought that he could possibly be falling for the young man.

Lucius knew a big part of the problem lay with the weeks he spent with Harry at Snape Manor. True to what Harry told him, Black and Lupin had gone away in December, leaving Harry to fend for himself at Hogwarts. In a rare year when all of the students went home, it would have left Harry by himself with only Dumbledore, Hagrid, and a few other teachers, but Severus had invited Harry to stay with him at the Manor.

Harry had jumped at the chance and Severus, knowing Harry's affection for Lucius, had invited him to stay as well.

Lucius smiled as he remembered the surprise and happiness he felt when he arrived at the manor. Severus and Harry were not alone. There was another man, a little younger than Severus and himself, sitting next to the Potions master on the couch. Severus introduced Lucius to the wizard. His name was Andrea Medici, and he had recently bought the Apothecary in Diagon Alley. He came from an Italian family and this was his first time in England.

When they went to bed, Harry told him that he had been with Severus when they first encountered the pretty, dark-haired, brown-eyed merchant, and Harry could tell that Severus was immediately enthralled with the wizard. Harry managed to push the two of them into a conversation, and when Andrea had found out that Severus was the Potions professor at Hogwarts, he was even more intrigued.

When Severus realized he had to leave, Harry said that his professor almost looked crestfallen, so Harry invited the merchant to dinner at Hogwarts that night. Andrea had jumped at the chance and when he showed up that night, Harry escorted him to Severus's chambers. Harry then promptly disappeared, claiming that he had a surprise assignment in Transfiguration. When he went back later that night to see how the evening's dinner went, he found the two men curled around each other in Severus's bed, sound asleep. They'd been together since, and Harry couldn't be happier.

Neither could Lucius. He loved his friend, though he'd never admit it to anyone unless absolutely necessary, and he was glad that Severus had finally found someone who was his equal. Lucius, in turn, shared his happiness with Harry that first night of the winter holiday, and the sex was nearly mind-shattering.

The four spent the entire winter holiday, talking and getting to know one another. On Christmas morning, they exchanged gifts.

Lucius was delighted with the serpent necklace that Harry had given him, as well as the other gifts, but it was the last present that Harry had given him that truly touched his heart.

Inside a large and heavy box was a beautiful silver picture frame, designed with serpents, of course. But it was the picture that drew his attention.

The picture was of Draco. From the look of it, it was taken just before he died. Draco saw his father and beamed at him, waving and smiling. He looked so alive and so radiant that Lucius could almost feel Draco sitting next to him.

When he finally looked up, he saw Harry staring at him with tears in his eyes. Harry told him, "This picture was taken the day before he died. I had bought a camera during the summer and we spent that day taking pictures. This one was the best out of all of them. After he died, I forgot about the camera, but I found it a few weeks ago and developed the film. Severus helped me with the enlargement and the potion for the photo."

Lucius had put the photo aside and then pulled Harry onto his lap, engulfing the young man in a tight embrace. "Thank you. This is the best gift anyone could give me." He wiped away the tears streaking down Harry's face and kissed him sweetly. That moment had been the wrench thrown into his plans.

Now as he lay here, watching Harry sleep, he had to remind himself once again why he was doing what he was doing, and why he couldn't allow himself to become attached to the boy.

Harry stirred and turned to face him. His eyes opened and he smiled at Lucius. "I love you," he murmured before snuggling into his lover's chest and falling back asleep.

Lucius could feel his heart trying to pound its way out of his chest. He hadn't been expecting those words and he wasn't ready to hear them. He wouldn't act on those words yet. He needed to make sure that Harry truly felt love for him before he went to the next phase.

Somewhere inside his head he heard a little voice say, 'Yes, you keep telling yourself that and maybe you'll eventually believe it.' Lucius ignored the implications of that little annoying voice and fell into sleep.

He awoke sometime later that morning to little kisses being pressed against his lips. He opened his eyes and smiled sleepily at his lover.

Harry smiled back and continued to place small, sweet kisses on Lucius's lips. The kisses gradually became deeper and more passionate. Harry rolled onto his back, pulling Lucius on top of him. "You know, I could lie here and just kiss you all day."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just kiss?" he asked, pressing his lips to Harry's.

"Yes, just kiss. I love kissing you," Harry replied between kisses.

"Well, why don't we try it and see how long it takes to become something more?" Lucius asked.

Harry groaned. "I can't. It's Hogsmeade weekend, remember? I have to meet Sirius and Remus at their house at 12:30 for lunch."

Lucius looked at the clock. "We'll have to try that some other time, then. We still have a few hours before you have to report to your godfather's home. That gives me plenty of time to have my way with you," Lucius growled, sealing Harry's mouth in a deep, lingering kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remus opened the door for Harry and was nearly knocked over by the musky scent of sex and passion surrounding his husband's godson. He damned his much too keen sense of smell as he ushered Harry into the living room.

Sirius beamed at his godson and engulfed him in a hug. Remus momentarily envied Sirius's less sensitive sense of smell. He sat down across from his husband and Harry. "So, Harry, how is school going? What have you been up to lately?"

Harry smiled. "School is going just fine. Professor Dumbledore is trying to get Severus to put me back into class, but Severus still thinks that there will be trouble if I go back." Harry felt Sirius bristle at Severus's name, but he ignored him. "As for what I've been up to, not much lately. I've started studying for my N.E.W.T.S. Severus has been helping me, and he's really pushing all the Slytherins to do their best. It looks like we're going to win the House Cup this year, unless something completely disastrous happens."

"If you were still a Gryffindor, Slytherin wouldn't have a chance," Sirius muttered.

Harry looked at him sharply. "Gryffindor lost almost all their points before I left the House. They deserved to lose their points after what they pulled in Severus's class. They hurt people, and they're lucky that no one was permanently damaged."

Remus decided a change of subject was in order. "So, Harry, do you have a boyfriend?"

Harry's cheeks flushed a little. "Sort of, but I'd rather not say until I know for sure how he feels about me. I think we're quite serious about each other, but I don't want to jinx it by saying something too soon."

"Fair enough. Let's eat and Sirius and I will tell you all about our trip to Japan."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Wednesday, Remus walked into Flourish and Blotts Booksellers in Diagon Alley. He needed some books on herbology, since he and Sirius were planning on growing a garden in the spring, and they wanted to get a head start on which plants would be best.

As he perused the shelves, he thought about Harry. He could swear that the scent of the man that Harry was involved with was someone he knew. The scent smelled familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. He knew it was none of the teachers on the staff of Hogwarts, otherwise he would have suspected Severus. Remus knew what Severus smelled like, however, and he knew it wasn't him.

He tried to put it out of his mind as he picked out his books, but the scent that had covered Harry wafted by him and filled his nostrils. He looked to see a man turning the corner. He couldn't quite make out who it was, but he had an idea. He quickly followed the scent to the register and found the person Harry was obviously involved with.

His eyes flashed and his nostrils flared. He repressed the urge to growl fiercely and it took all his strength not to rip Lucius Malfoy apart.

Lucius felt unfriendly eyes upon him and turned to find Remus Lupin glaring at him. He gave the werewolf an unfriendly half-smile. "Lupin," he acknowledged. "Fancy meeting you here. I'd say it was a pleasure, but we all know that's a lie," he said, turning to pay for the books he had purchased for Harry. They were to help him with his studies. As he left, he said, "My regards to that ruddy canine of yours, Lupin."

Remus paid for his books and stalked out of the store. He immediately Apparated home and slammed the books on the table. "Sirius! Sirius, where the hell are you?" he shouted.

Sirius came downstairs. "I'm right here, Remus. What's wrong?"

"Come with me. We're going to have a talk with that stupid godson of yours!" he growled, pulling Sirius out the front door. They Apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts and Remus stalked toward the school, leaving Sirius running to keep up.

"Remus, I don't get it. What has got you so furious? What did Harry do?"

Remus didn't stop. "You know how I told you that the scent of Harry's new boyfriend seemed familiar? Well, I found out who that scent belongs to today."

"Who?"

"Lucius Malfoy, that's who!" Remus yelled.

Sirius stopped dead in his tracks. "That's not true…it can't be. Harry would never…"

Remus walked back and stood in front of his husband. "Sirius, the scent that I detected on Harry belongs to Lucius Malfoy. When Harry was in our house, he reeked of that man. I could smell his lover all over him. I could smell sex radiating off him. He was with Lucius Malfoy that morning, before he came to lunch at our house."

Sirius's eyes grew dark with anger and he stalked into the castle. Instead of going to his godson's room, he headed for Albus Dumbledore's office. After the fifth try he picked the right password and he bounded up the stairs. Sirius didn't bother knocking; he simply barged into the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore looked up from his desk. "Oh, hello, Sirius. How are you? Would you like some tea?"

"No, I would not like some tea!" he screamed, slamming his hand down on the headmaster's desk. Fawkes jumped at the loud noise and screeched angrily, ruffling his feathers. "What I would like to know is why Lucius Malfoy is allowed to come in here and force himself on my godson!"

Dumbledore looked at Sirius, not amused in the least. "I'll tell you nothing until you and your husband sit down and behave like normal human beings."

Remus sat down and pulled Sirius down with him. He knew the old wizard wouldn't utter a word until they did just as he asked. "Now will you answer his question?"

Dumbledore watched both of them. "Lucius and Harry became friends after Draco's unfortunate demise and I saw no reason not to allow the two to explore their friendship. I do not discourage visitors and any student is allowed to have visitors if they wish. Lucius is also a governor of Hogwarts, and he is Severus Snape's closest friend. As for Lucius forcing himself on Harry, that's utter nonsense. As far as I can tell, any advances Lucius may have made toward your godson were quite welcome."

"Really? I didn't realise this school allowed paedophiles onto the grounds," Sirius snapped.

Dumbledore's eyes flashed with anger. "Watch yourself, young man. May I remind you that I am in charge here, not you? As for that accusation, it is completely unfounded. Harry is well over the age of consent, and he will be eighteen in five months. He will leave this school before that. What Harry does with his personal life is no one's concern but Harry's. I suggest you have an eye on that temper of yours. If you're not careful, you may end up losing your godson."

Sirius snarled angrily, "If he chooses to be with that murderer, I have no godson!" Sirius stood up and stalked out of the room, a smug-looking Remus following behind.

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed dangerously. He walked over to the fireplace and transported himself to Malfoy Manor. "Lucius!" he yelled.

Lucius came out of the library and stared at Dumbledore with confusion. "What's wrong, Albus?"

Dumbledore sat down. "Remus and Sirius have discovered your relationship with Harry. I fear that there is going to be a rather nasty explosion of tempers. If you weren't going to see Harry tonight, you may want to rethink that. I have a feeling that he's going to need you. If this goes the way I think it's going to, Harry's about to lose the one tie he has to his parents. Sirius will disown him. You know how much Sirius hates you."

"Black would really disown his only family for loving someone he doesn't approve of? How touching," Lucius sneered. He looked at Dumbledore and sighed. "Give me half an hour to change and gather what I need. I'll come directly to your office and wait for the dust to settle. I'll stay with Harry tonight."

Dumbledore patted him on the back. "Good boy. I'll be waiting. We can have a cup of tea while we wait for the fireworks to go off. Harry's still in class at the moment."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi, Sirius," Harry said cheerfully as he walked into his room. He set his rucksack on the chair and turned just in time to see Sirius's hand come flying at him.

Harry stumbled sideways, the stinging pain erupting across his cheek causing his eyes to water. He readjusted his glasses, which were dangling from his ear, and glared at his godfather. His hand shot out and he sent Sirius flying across the room. As Sirius crashed into the wall, Harry screamed, "What the hell is the matter with you? How dare you come into my room and slap me! Don't ever touch me like that again!"

Sirius jumped up and screamed right back. "What's the matter with me? I want to know what the hell it is you think you are doing! How dare you become involved with Lucius Malfoy? Are you insane? How can you allow that lying, murdering, less-than-human, rapist bastard fuck you? Don't you have any respect for yourself?"

Harry's eyes narrowed. "How did you know I was seeing Lucius?" he asked, his eyes fixing on Remus.

Remus stood up and said coldly, "I told him. I saw Malfoy today and I recognized his smell. His stench invaded my nostrils the entire time you were at our house. How dare you bring his scent into my home!"

"Shut up, Remus," Harry snapped angrily. "How much fun it must have been for you to play the little snitch. Peter Pettigrew would be so proud."

"Leave him out of this!" Sirius warned. "He has nothing to do with this!"

"Neither do you!" Harry bellowed. "My relationship with Lucius is between Lucius and myself. It has nothing to do with either of you!"

"I'm going to give you one chance and one chance only. Either you give up Lucius Malfoy right here and now, or you can forget you ever had a godfather."

Harry looked at Remus coldly. "Get the fuck out of my room and take that mangy mongrel with you. I'll expect you to send me my things by tomorrow night or I'll send someone after them, and you won't like who I send," Harry told him icily, stalking to the door and opening it.

As the two older men walked out, Harry screamed, "I can't believe the two of you! I've been ignored by the two of you almost as much as the Dursleys neglected me and when I find someone who actually wants to spend time with me, someone who wants to make time for me, you disown me just because you don't like him? Well, stay the hell out of my life. I don't need either of you!"

Harry slammed the door, tears of anger and disappointment streaking down his face. He walked to his desk and pulled out the box with all the little things that reminded him of Draco. He opened the book once again and read the line that Draco had written. " Love your enemies just in case your friends turn out to be a bunch of bastards." He wondered if Draco knew how true those words were going to turn out to be.

Harry lay on the bed with the book and curled up into a ball. All those he loved left him as soon as he did something they didn't approve of. He wondered if there was anyone left that could just be happy for him. He fell into a restless sleep as he pondered this thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucius walked quietly into the room. He immediately saw Harry sleeping on the bed and he shut the door without a sound. He walked to the desk and placed the books he had purchased for Harry earlier in the day on it. The open box on the desk caught his attention. He reached inside and picked up a stack of pictures. There were some of Harry and Draco with the Slytherins, but many were of Harry and Draco by themselves. The people in the pictures smiled and waved at him.

The ones that caught his greatest attention were those of Harry and Draco within each other's embrace, kissing tenderly. He felt an uncharacteristic pang of jealousy and he wondered if Harry was attracted to him because he and Draco looked so much alike.

So engrosses in the pictures he was that he didn't hear Harry get up off the bed. He jumped guiltily when Harry wrapped an arm around his waist.

"I'm not with you because you remind me of Draco, if that's what you're wondering. I made sure that wasn't the case, or I wouldn't have made love with you that first time. I loved Draco, but I wasn't in love with him. I'm in love with you."

"What's that?" Lucius asked, pointing to the book Harry was holding. Harry handed it to him. "'The Count of Monte Cristo'". Where did you get this?"

"Draco gave it to me," Harry said, opening the front cover and showing him the signature. "What happened today reminded me of what he had written."

Lucius placed the book on the desk and turned his attention to the young man beside him. "Do you want to talk about what happened today?"

Harry shook his head. "There's nothing to talk about. They don't like my taste in men and since I won't give you up simply because they said so, they disowned me. They're supposed to send my things to me by tomorrow evening. I told them that if they didn't send my things that I would send you and Severus to get them. How did you know what was going to happen?"

"Black and Lupin went to see Dumbledore first. He thought you'd like to have me here tonight."

"He was right," Harry murmured, pulling Lucius closer to him. "I do want you here."

"Dumbledore is having a house-elf bring up dinner for us and we can do whatever you wish. I'll even help you study."

Harry's eyes fell on the books. He reached over and picked up the one on top. "Did you buy these for me?"

Lucius nodded. "I thought that they might give you an advantage for your N.E.W.T.S. You're going to do better than that little Granger bitch. I have complete faith in your abilities."

"Thank you. At least I know someone cares." Harry grabbed his new books and took them over to the couch. He grabbed his rucksack and sat down.

Lucius sat beside him and took a closer look at his face. "Why are there markings on your cheek?"

Harry's hand went up to his face. "Sirius hit me."

Lucius's eyes flashed with fury. "How dare he touch you? I'll hex him until blood comes out of every orifice!"

Harry straddled the enraged wizard's lap and kissed him. "It's all right. I'm fine and he didn't get away unscathed," Harry said, motioning to the hole in the wall.

"What is that?"

"That's where I threw Sirius into the wall. He's not going to feel too well when he wakes up in the morning." Harry pressed his lips to Lucius's lips gently. "You don't mind staying with me tonight?" Harry asked. "I know how busy you are during the week."

Lucius pretended to think deep thoughts. "Let's see. I can go home, look at dull papers until I see double and fall asleep all by myself. Or I can stay here and help you study for an hour or so and then toss you on the bed and ravish you for a long while before falling asleep with you in my arms. That's a difficult decision, but I think that just this once I can choose you over paperwork."

Harry blinked back false tears. "Don't I feel special! Just think…I'm more important to you than a piece of parchment. I'm so happy!" Harry squealed as Lucius flipped him onto the couch and pounced on him. Harry pulled a laughing Lucius toward him and kissed him softly. "I'm glad Dumbledore sent for you."

"So am I," Lucius whispered. Before he could say anything more, there was a knock on the door. Lucius jumped off the couch and helped Harry up. Lucius sat back down while Harry went to answer the door.

Severus walked in carrying a large tray. "I saw Dobby coming with this and I suspected that Lucius was here. I thought I'd save them both the trouble of an encounter and bring it myself. I heard that there was enough of an explosion here today," he explained, eyeing Harry.

Harry sighed and nodded. They sat down and Harry explained what happened to the two men.

"I always knew that Black was an idiot," Severus said matter-of-factly.

Harry said nothing. He couldn't very well disagree after the earlier performance by Sirius.

Lucius shook his head. "I'd love to wrap my fingers around his flea-infested neck and squeeze the life out of him. He should feel lucky to have this young man's affections, and that he can so callously toss away his godson disgusts me. Could you have thrown Draco aside simply because he loved someone you didn't necessarily like?"

Severus looked at Harry and smiled. "He became close friends with Potter, and I didn't disown him. Harry and I still didn't get along too well at the beginning of their relationship, did we, Harry?"

Harry sniggered. "I think the less said, the better."

"I wholeheartedly agree. Well, I best be going. I have a date with a certain merchant tonight," he said, getting up.

"Anyone we know?" Harry teased.

"Someone more handsome than you," Severus quipped.

"I beg to differ, Severus," Lucius piped in.

Severus laughed. "To each his own. I'll see the two of you later. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

****************************
Two months later, the end of April
****************************

Severus came out of the fireplace and into Lucius's living room. "Lucius!" he called out. "Lucius, where are you?"

"I'm right here," Lucius said, coming out of the library. "What's wrong with you?"

"I need you to come to Hogwarts now. There was a little incident in Potions."

Lucius looked at him curiously. "I don't understand."

"Albus thought that Harry might possibly rejoin the class, so we tried it. It didn't work and someone altered his potion."

Lucius grew immediately concerned. "Is he hurt?"

Severus burst out laughing. "Not quite, though someone may get hurt if you don't come soon. The potion changed into some sort of aphrodisiac, and he's climbing the walls, almost literally. I haven't had the time yet to figure out which one of many it could be, but for now, I think Harry just needs a little attention." Severus handed Lucius a bottle.

Lucius looked at the purple liquid and frowned. "What is this?"

Severus smiled maliciously. "It's an aphrodisiac strong enough to keep you going for a long time. I have a feeling you're going to need it. I suggest taking it before you go to Harry's room. He may not give you a chance once you get there."

Lucius watched Severus disappear into the fireplace to go back to his chambers, and then he took the potion his friend had given to him. "Harry Potter's room at Hogwarts," he said after tossing Floo powder into the fireplace.

He jumped out of the fireplace and before he had a chance to look up, he had an armful of sexy, naked Slytherin.

Harry's mouth latched onto his, kissing him with an urgency that he'd never experienced before. Lucius wrapped his arms around Harry and kissed him back eagerly, his own aphrodisiac taking effect.

Harry wasted no time with pleasantries. He ripped the robes off his lover, sending buttons flying every direction. He ripped Lucius's shirt to shreds as he pushed the blond back toward the bed. Harry pushed Lucius onto the bed and quickly unfastened the buttons of his trousers. He pulled the zipper down and yanked Lucius's trousers and boxers down with one smooth motion.

Harry threw his glasses in the direction of the table and then pounced on his lover. He latched onto Lucius's neck, sucking savagely and rubbing against his lover's body like a bitch in heat.

Lucius growled seductively and used his superior strength to flip their positions. He slithered down Harry's body and engulfed his lover's rigid prick, swallowing it into his throat.

Harry screamed out his lover's name as he came, but his prick didn't soften. He looked up at Lucius and growled, "Fuck me!"

Lucius happily agreed with that sentiment, reaching for the jar of lubricant. He scooped some out quickly and coated his cock generously.

Harry cheerfully flipped over and got up on his hands and knees, spreading his knees apart so Lucius could position himself between his legs. As soon as he felt Lucius push the tip of his cock into his hole, Harry pushed back forcefully, impaling himself on his lover's shaft and causing Lucius to ejaculate prematurely.

Lucius would have been quite embarrassed if it weren't for the potion Severus had given him. He was still rock-hard, and he silently thanked his friend as he pounded into his young lover.

Harry eagerly pushed back to meet every thrust, as string of indecipherable words spilling from his mouth. After five minutes, Harry pulled himself off his lover, turned around and pushed Lucius down on the bed. He straddled him and impaled himself once more, riding his lover frantically.

While Harry and Lucius were shagging each other senseless, Severus and Andrea were busy trying to find out exactly what it was that the Gryffindors had created. They were searching through books for all the aphrodisiac and love potions they could find while they awaited the results from the test they were conducting on Harry's cauldron. If the test went properly, a drop of the solution on a piece of parchment would magically imprint the ingredients on paper.

The solution finally finished and they dripped a drop on a piece of parchment. The test was successful, and they had their ingredients. They placed another drop on another piece of parchment and sat down to look.

They spent hours combing through book after book, until Severus finally found the correct potion. He read through the ingredients quickly to be positive, and then he carefully read the effects and intent of the potion.

Andrea looked up at his lover when Severus burst into a fit of giggles. "What is so funny?"

Severus handed him the book. Andrea read the potion and joined in on Severus's joviality. "Do you think we should tell them?" he asked, after he calmed down a little.

Severus sniggered. "No, let's wait until they have to know. What a surprise this is going to be. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they find out."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning Harry woke up with the worst hangover he'd ever felt. He tried to roll over, but instead he cried out in pain. His bum felt like it was on fire. After a moment his head cleared and he remembered the day before. "Oh, bugger!"

He rolled his head to the side and came eye to eye with Lucius. "Hello," he mumbled groggily.

"Hello," Lucius replied. "Don't take this the wrong way, Harry, but I don't want to shag you for at least a week."

Harry chuckled and winced in pain from the movement. "The feeling is mutual, I assure you. My arse hurts terribly. I don't think I'll be able to even sit for a week." Harry looked at the clock. "What time is it? I can't see and I have no idea where my glasses are."

Lucius forced his head up and glanced at the clock. "It's 6:30," he muttered, his head falling back onto the pillow with a thump.

"I wonder if Severus found out anything about that potion," Harry mused aloud.

"I don't know, but I'm not leaving this bed to find out," murmured the half-dead blond. "I am definitely too old for aphrodisiacs. No more love potions for you."

"If I had some alcohol, I'd drink to that," Harry muttered. He forced himself to roll over onto his side. "Oh, I think my arse has died."

"I mourn the death of your arse," Lucius quipped. "It's served me well for over six months."

Harry roared with laughter. "I'm glad you appreciate the service my arse has given you."

Lucius looked up when he heard a knock at the door. He heard Severus call out, and he yelled, "Come in!"

Severus walked into the room carrying vials of potions and a tray full of food. "I thought I'd come and see how my little nymphomaniacs are doing."

"Well, right now neither of us wishes to ever have sex again," Lucius moaned as he tried to sit up.

Severus handed him a potion. "Take this. It will help with the pain."

Lucius swallowed the potion without question and a blissful, relieved smile spread across his face. "Much better. Thank you, Severus."

"You're quite welcome. Here, Harry, this is a Numbing Potion. It will dull the pain."

Harry took the vial. "Why is it different from Lucius's?"

Severus answered readily. "Because the potion you were hit with is still running through your veins, and we can't mix certain other potions with it."

"Oh." Harry took the potion and most of his pain subsided. He shifted uncomfortably. "My bum still hurts."

Severus smirked. "With your permission to have a look at your bum, I should be able to perform a light healing spell."

"Anything that will help is fine with me," Harry groaned, and Lucius waved a hand in agreement.

Severus pulled the sheet off Harry's to expose his backside and be spread the young wizard's cheeks apart carefully. He gently placed the tip of his wand at Harry's hole and muttered an incantation.

Lucius watched with amusement as Harry nearly fainted with relief. "I think you did it, Severus. Once Harry comes back down to earth, I'm sure he'll thank you."

"Mm…yes…thank you, Sev," Harry murmured dreamily. "Feels much better."

Lucius and Severus looked at each other and mouthed 'Sev?' Severus had never had anyone shorten his name before. He was always 'Severus', even as a small child.

Severus shrugged and grabbed the tray. "Here. You two need to eat something before you go back to sleep. I've excused you from all classes today, Harry. Dumbledore owled the Ministry and told them that you had come to Hogwarts last night and had fallen ill. You two can sleep all day if you wish to do so."

Lucius took the tray. "Remind me to send that man some candy."

Severus mumbled, "As long as it's not lemon drops."

Harry giggled as he took a plate of food and tucked in. "How long did it take you to find the right potion?"

"Several hours. Once we were able to ascertain the ingredients, it still took a few hours to find the right one. Andrea helped me find the correct potion."

Harry looked up from his plate. "So I'm not going to die or sprout tentacles, am I? There are no dangerous or disgusting side effects?"

Severus shook his head. "There are a few possible side effects, but unless the potion was perfect, you won't feel a thing. Trust me though, there is nothing to worry about."

Lucius and Harry both had a feeling that their friend wasn't telling them something, but neither was up to grilling a man like Severus for information. "Fine," Harry said.

The two tired men finished their meal and Severus took the tray. "Get some sleep. I'm sure that the two of you need it. I'll have an elf or Albus bring down a tray later."

As soon as Severus left, the two took turns using the loo and then they snuggled up together. Harry pressed soft little kisses to Lucius's mouth. "I love you."

Lucius smiled wryly. "I'm sorry, Harry, but I couldn't get it up again if my life depended on it."

Harry chuckled lightly. "Neither could I. But like I said before, I could lie here all day and just kiss you." He placed a few more kisses on his lover's mouth before nuzzling his head under Lucius's chin. It didn't take long for the two of them to fall into a comfortable slumber, contented smiles gracing both of their faces.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*****************************
Three days before the end of school
*****************************

Lucius entered Harry's room through the fireplace and found his lover lying on the bed sobbing. He walked over and sat beside him, placing a comforting hand on the small of his young lover's back and rubbing gently. "Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry sat up and wrapped his arms around Lucius. "It's the end of school," Harry wailed, as if that explained everything wrong with the world.

"I know it is, but I still don't understand."

"What isn't wrong? I asked Remus and Sirius to meet me for dinner to celebrate my finishing school without dying, hoping that maybe they would change their minds, but the invitation was sent back unopened by their house-elf with a note saying that the two were gone to Egypt, and that they were no longer accepting posts from 'Harry Potter'. My parents would want them to be here. I know that my parents would be here for me, even if they didn't like my being with you."

"I'm sorry. Yes, I do believe your parents would be there, despite any differences you may have had. Black is a self-absorbed, unfeeling little brat. But you know this, and I doubt that their refusal is what has you in such a state." Lucius pulled Harry's face up and looked at him. "What's wrong?"

Harry burst into a fresh bout of tears. "Draco should be here!" he wailed. "He should be here standing next to me and mocking all the Gryffindors everywhere, not lying in a grave next to his mother at the age of seventeen."

Once again, Lucius fought an inner war, a war that he no longer had any control over. One part of him raged on, forcing him to remember why it was he started this relationship in the first place. The other part, the part that had gained strength over the past nine months, battled right back, mocking the part of him that still wanted Harry to pay. It mocked him with words of love and affection, reminding him daily that he had made the ultimate mistake and fell in love with his victim.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered into Lucius's chest. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for him. I’m sorry I couldn't get there in time to save him."

Lucius looked down sharply. "What are you talking about?"

"That day the four of us went to Hogsmeade, but we didn't mean to stay. We decided to split up. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were going to go to the Three Broomsticks and pick up some food and some butterbeer, and I was going to buy candy at Honeydukes and then I was going to buy our prank supplies at Zonko's. I still have our list," Harry sobbed, handing Lucius the crumpled piece of parchment he'd been holding.

While Lucius looked at the parchment, Harry continued. "I was walking toward Honeydukes and I had stopped in front of the bookstore. I had seen a book that would be perfect for Severus for Christmas. I was about to run in and buy it when I heard a scream. I looked across the street and Crabbe and Goyle were already on the ground. I ran towards them, taking my wand out of my sleeve, but the spell hit Draco before I could aim my wand. Then that bastard aimed his wand at me, and I killed him." Harry's body shook violently in his sorrow. "I'm sorry I couldn't save him. I'm so, so sorry."

Lucius pulled Harry onto his lap and rocked him slowly. He stroked his hair while tears streaked down both their faces. "It’s okay, Harry," he whispered soothingly. "It's not your fault. There was nothing you could have done. You didn't kill Draco. There wasn't any way you could have stopped what happened."

They sat that way for a long time, neither of them saying anything more. Finally, Harry sat back and looked at him. "There's something else," Harry said warily.

"What is it?" Lucius asked, knowing that there was nothing else that could be said that would surprise him.

"I found out what Severus was hiding from us. You know, about that potion."

Lucius frowned. "What is it?"

Harry took a deep breath. "The potion was an ancient one, and it's been long since it was used. Severus says it's rare to find someone who even knows about it. It was used long ago by wizards, when the number of women was few. Sometimes the wizards would travel and get lost, you know, when much of the world was still unexplored, and Apparition and all those wonderful little homing charms had yet to be invented. They would take this potion with them to insure that their ability to procreate and create a new population would be intact wherever they wandered."

Lucius's face paled. "What are you saying?" he asked, knowing full well what was coming.

"I haven't been feeling well, as you well know, and I finally told Severus. Once he picked himself up off the floor, where he had collapsed into a bout of laughter, he escorted me to the hospital wing, telling me what I just told you. Madame Pomfrey examined me, and well…I'm pregnant…with triplets."

"I feel faint," Lucius muttered.

Harry jumped up and helped Lucius lean over and place his head between his knees. "Why am I doing this?" Lucius questioned.

"Because it's the same thing Madame Pomfrey and Severus did to me when I said the same thing," Harry replied.

After a few minutes, Lucius sat back up. "I'm fine, but I think I had better lie down for a while."

Harry helped him lay back. Lucius pulled Harry down with him and the two lay there in each other's arms for a while. Finally, Lucius looked at Harry. "You're really going to have my child?"

"Children," Harry corrected. "Three of them, but yes, I am. Talk about a bit of a shock. I didn't even know that it was possible."

"Neither did I. We'll have to set a date soon, then."

Harry stared at him, confused. "A date for what?"

Lucius stared back. "Our wedding. I refuse to give this biased world any more ammunition. Our children will have enough prejudice against them for being Malfoys and Slytherins. I will not add the word 'bastard' to that list." Lucius smiled at Harry and trailed a finger across Harry's jaw line softly. "I love you, Harry. I want to marry you."

Harry smiled, tears shining in his eyes. "That's the first time you've said it."

"Said what, love?"

"That you love me."

Lucius sighed. "It is, isn't it? I promise to try and remedy that oversight in the future. Now, when do you think we should be married?"

"How about on Saturday? The last day of school is Friday, and all the students will be gone by nine o'clock on Saturday morning. We can do it after lunch. Severus and Andrea can be our witnesses, and Dumbledore can officiate. And of course we'll invite Madame Pomfrey. She's offered to help me with this pregnancy. We don't need anyone else."

"That would be fine. Perhaps we should go tell them what we're planning," Lucius said. "I think that they would like to know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*************
Fifty years later
*************

Harry said goodbye to the last guest and shut the door. He walked into the living room and collapsed next to his husband. After the last of their children and grandchildren said goodnight and retired to their rooms, Harry crawled onto his husband's lap.

Harry sighed happily. "That was fun, wasn't it?"

"Aye, it was. I'm glad Severus and the children got together and threw this party for us. It had been entirely too long since we had our family and friends all in one place."

Harry nodded sleepily. "I know. I wish Albus and Poppy could have been here." Both had died years earlier. Albus had finally died of old age, and Poppy had developed a brain tumour that couldn't be repaired.

"So do I. They proved to be truly wonderful people." Lucius kissed Harry's cheek. "Can you believe that we've been married fifty years? It doesn't seem nearly that long."

Harry feathered little kisses across his husband's face. "I know, but we've been happy. Time goes by much faster when you're content."

"You know what would make me content? Making love to my husband on our anniversary."

Harry chuckled and stood up. He pulled his husband off the couch and led him up the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

******************************
Harry and Lucius's 100th anniversary
******************************

"Well, I have to admit that they outdid themselves this time," Harry moaned as he slid into bed next to Lucius. "I didn't think they'd be able to pull it off, getting that many people here."

Their children had thrown their parents a party to mark their 100 years together as a married couple, and they had managed to get the entire family together.

Harry and Lucius had been shocked to see their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even their great-great-grandchildren all in one house at one time.

Lucius laughed as he pulled Harry into his embrace. He stroked Harry's snow-white hair. "I didn't realize how many people were in our family."

Harry thought. "Well, let's see. We have five biological children and eight adopted children. That's thirteen. All of them are married, so that makes thirteen more. Between our thirteen children there are fifty-eight grandchildren, and those grandchildren have given us ninety-three great-grandchildren. So far, those great-grandchildren have given us fifty-nine great-great-grandchildren, and counting. Add Severus and Andrea and their large family, and our other friends, and that's a lot of family."

"Aye, it is, and as much as I love each and every one of them, I thank Merlin that they don't live here!" Lucius quipped. "I like our peace and quiet."

Harry smiled. "Aye, it's just you, me, Draco, and the house-elves."

Two months after Harry and Lucius were married Harry was still exploring the house. He finally summoned the courage to explore Draco's wing, and he had received the shock of his lifetime when he found the ghost of the blond boy inhabiting his former bedroom.

After a lot of tears and a long talk with the ghost, Harry convinced Draco that Lucius would love to know that Draco was here at home. When Draco revealed himself to his father, it was an emotional scene, but well worth it. Since then, Draco had played an important part in their family life.

Lucius and Harry lay there quietly for a while. Harry jumped when Lucius said, "None of this was supposed to happen."

Harry looked up, confusion spreading across his face. "What are you talking about? What wasn't supposed to happen?"

"All of this. When I first started this relationship with you, I hated you. I blamed you for my son's death, and I wanted revenge. When I found out you were gay, I wanted to make you fall in love with me, and then I wanted to destroy you, first emotionally and then physically. I wanted you dead. I didn't know then what really happened the day my son died. I didn't know until the day that you told me you were pregnant. By then, I had fallen deeply in love with you. I never told you this, did I?"

Harry shook his head, staring at his husband. "You hated me that much?"

"Aye, but over time that changed. I couldn't stop myself from loving you. When I found out you loved me I could have destroyed you then, but I kept stalling, finding one reason or another not to go through with my plan. I didn't want to let you go, though I wouldn't admit it to myself. I was a constant storm of conflicting emotions, but when I saw you lying on the bed that day in such anguish, I knew I could never do it. I loved you too much. Can you forgive and old fool?"

Harry kissed Lucius. "What's done is done, and there's nothing to forgive. If you hadn't done what you did, we most likely never would have come together. These last hundred years have been the happiest I could have ever hoped for. I love you."

"I love you, too."

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***************
Twenty years later
***************

Severus watched as a familiar form placed a single red rose on top of the headstone. The years had taken away the ebony hair and the old vitality the man had once, but he knew who he was just the same. He walked up to stand beside him and placed his bouquet of flowers at the foot of the headstone. "What are you doing here, Black?"

Sirius turned to gaze at the former Potions professor of Hogwarts with sad, lost eyes. "I came to pay my respects to my godson," he said.

"He's been dead for five years. Now he's your godson? Where were you for the 115 years that he lived his life in peace and happiness? Where were you when his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born? Where were you when the cancer that killed him raged through his body?"

"Don't tell me of my mistakes, Snape. I know them all too well."

Severus glared at Sirius. "Black, don't expect me to feel anything but contempt for you. You wouldn't let Harry see Lupin when he was dying. You wouldn't let Harry attend Lupin's funeral. Do you have any idea how much it hurt Harry not to see Lupin one last time, just to say goodbye?"

"I know. I'm sorry about that, not that it matters now." Sirius looked at the headstone. "I can't believe they died at the same time."

"That's because you didn't know them," Severus murmured, his voice thick with emotion and his eyes full of unshed tears. "Lucius watched his husband die a little every day, and he died with him. He couldn't live without Harry, after so long. When the end was near, he gave up completely and he willed himself to die. They died on the same night, curled around each other. They lie in the same coffin now as they did in life, entwined together. It was the only fitting way to send them to their resting place."

Sirius let the tears flow freely, the guilt for abandoning Harry running through his veins.

Severus bent slightly and kissed the top of the headstone. "Rest well my friends. I love both of you. Andrea sends his love as well." He turned to walk away, but he couldn't resist hammering one more nail into Sirius's coffin. "You know something, Black? Draco was right when he told Harry to love his enemies in case his friends turned out to be a bunch of bastards. I think it prepared Harry for his complete and utter abandonment. I don't know what you came here for. You can't find peace or forgiveness here. Harry's dead. You could only find that when he was alive."

Severus walked away, leaving his old schoolmate and nemesis to ponder the choices he made over 100 years ago."

FINIS

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