A Rose by Another Name - Chapters 5-11

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Written for the Lucius/Severus Romance Fest in severus_lucius on LJ.

Title: A rose by another name.
Author: tinamuggi
Pairing: Lucius Malfoy/Severus Snape
Rating: PG-13 (or maybe even just PG – oh my)
Warnings: Angst, pretend death, romance
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this story are the intellectual and copyrighted property of J.K.Rowling. No financial nor intellectual infringement is intended.
Summary: A tale of starstruck lovers, caught betwixt two feuding families, and their struggle for love and freedom (Romeo and Juliet - Revisited)
A/N: Written for the Lucius/Severus Romance Fest April 2007. Thanks go to my friend and Uni fellow student Lisa for initial Beta. (I think I might have turned her to the Dark Side :D) All the mistakes are mine. Severus is 16 and is starting his 6th year after the summer at Hogwarts. Lucius is 17 and starting his 7th year after the summer at Durmstrang, so I've manipulated and falsified and canon-raped their ages and Lucius' school records in order to make this fit the premise of Romeo and Julio Juliet.

Chapter 5

Severus had read Malfoy's owl several times by now and he couldn't sleep. He wasn't sure he'd ever sleep again, the way his mind kept replaying the words even after he put the note down, adding it to the memory of Malfoy touching him.

Malfoy really hadn't been kidding. Don't be so sure. And Severus wasn't sure at all. But why would Malfoy invite him to the Malfoy manor if he was simply playing around with Severus? So he can show to all his friends how foolish and easy you are? Which was a very real possibility, considering the animosity there was against purebloods who married muggles, especially from the Malfoys. And he just couldn't believe Lucius Malfoy was any different.

Severus was still going there though. He couldn't say no, he didn't want to. If he ended up the butt of all jokes, he'd have to deal with that the usual way, by hexing the living daylights out of the idiots. Now he just needed to figure out a way to get past father without the man becoming suspicious.

-

Lucius was always very careful with his plans and this was no different even if everything seemed strangely different, in his mind.

Both his parents wouldn't be home for at least the afternoon, perhaps some of the early evening as well, which would give him enough time to ... yes, what exactly did he want to do? His imagination supplied a wide variety of activities but something told him, he would have to take this slow. And it was impossible to plan his approach, since Snape's reactions - both according to his school friends and to Lucius' own brief experience - were quite unpredictable. That made this venture both exciting and vexing, giving him unfamiliar butterflies in his stomach.

Lucius Malfoy didn't get butterflies in his stomach, but there they were, fluttering about as if they'd never done anything else. Little bastards. That wouldn't make this any easier and confused him endlessly.

Chapter 6

"So, what do you want to know?" Severus was trying to seem unaffected by the beautiful room around him, the drink in his hand, the books calling out for him, the Malfoy sitting across from him calling out even louder even if he wasn't shouting at all. In fact, he'd been talking in that tone he'd used at the party, soft and somehow silken, caressing Severus' senses in a way that made him want more. And he was sure Malfoy did it on purpose.

"I want to know what you like," Lucius said truthfully, using his drink to hide how much he wanted something else.

I like you. Severus almost said those words and narrowed his eyes at the thought. He didn't like Malfoy. He barely knew him. He was just humouring the bloke by coming here, and in the process getting away from home a bit. Nothing else. Nothing at all. "Potions and Defence against the Dark Arts."

Lucius chuckled and rose from his chair, antsy with how much he wanted to touch "I didn't ask about your favourite subjects. I asked what you liked."

"And I answered." The words was clipped, Severus' nervousness shining through in a way that made Lucius turn to look at the younger boy.

"Is that all you like, Severus?"

"... yes."

"I don't believe you. There must be something else you like." Lucius approached carefully, making a subtle half circle towards Severus' chair, as if he was approaching a wild animal, hoping his 'bait' would be enough to lure Snape.

Severus' eyes weren't on Lucius though, since he was studying the glass in his hand intently, trying not to blush. "No."

"Come on, you're obviously lying. Perhaps if I tell you something I like? Will you tell me something you like then?"

Severus' head snapped up and he looked sharply at Malfoy, frowning. What would Malfoy tell him? "Perhaps."

"I like you." And Lucius did, he realised. It was surreal and irrational. He didn't know Snape at all, and yet everything about the younger boy pulled him in, spellbound him. Everything from the objectively unattractive features to the caustic attitude and sharp tongue. And he wanted to experience more of it.

It had to be a lie. Severus couldn't believe Lucius Malfoy liked him. "Now you're lying."

"No," Lucius set down his glass then closed the last distance and kneeled down next to Severus' chair. "I'm not lying." Lucius' eyes and voice were intent, filled with his own confusion. "I like you." Liked Severus in a way that went further than he'd expected now that he was faced with him again. It was stupid, this. It made no sense. He'd only met Snape twice! He was making a fool of himself, and yet he didn't get up.

Severus felt his cheeks heat and his fingers tightened desperately around the glass as he said nothing, looking into Lucius' eyes and seeing a truth he didn't understand.

"What do you like?" Lucius finally asked, speaking even more softly, afraid he was going to far already now since Snape wasn't saying anything.

"I told you already." Severus tried again, hoping it would break the spell and make Malfoy stop this game.

Only, it wasn't a game for Lucius, for once. It was something else, serious and strange, unfamiliar and alien in his mind, as if things had shifted around in there, clicking into new places that somehow just fit ... better. "No, you didn't. Tell me what you like, Severus. Please?" Lucius reached out and touched the black hair that looked slightly greasy. He didn't care though if it was, it didn't matter.

There was no way Severus couldn't answer even if he didn't know exactly what it was, that answer. He opened his mouth a couple of times, trying not to make himself cross-eyed by looking at the hand that was touching his hair.

"I-"

"What in Merlin's name is this!?" Abraxas demanded in a booming voice, faced with the vision of his son … fondling a Mudblood, in his own home! And a boy even, which certainly didn't improve the situation at all.

Lucius jerked, nearly falling flat on his arse next to Severus' chair and looked with startled wide eyes up at his father. Oh bugger, that was just about the worst thing that could happen. Why the hell was he even here? It took Lucius mere seconds to recover though. Abraxas Malfoy's wrath was swift and harsh, but also mostly faded fairly quickly, and if he could stall for long enough, it would at least save the situation a little.

And Severus' life.

"We were discussing Mr. Snape's curriculum at Hogwarts and comparing it to mine," Lucius said calmly, while rising to his feet smoothly.

Severus sat like a deer caught in a flash of light, staring wildly at Malfoy Sr. and wondering if he'd find himself chained to the wall in their dungeons, or out on his arse or finally dead, in a few minutes.

"Get that filthy Mudblood out of my house, Lucius! I will not bear the sight of somebody like him within my walls!"

Well, at least father didn't have his wand out and Lucius was counting his blessings right now. The insult in his fathers words and voice was unmistakable and Lucius hoped Severus wouldn't react to them. He opened his mouth to forestall any comment but just wasn't fast enough.

"I'm not filthy!" Severus spat as he jumped out of the chair, dropping the glass to the floor. After the initial shock, he'd recovered and realised that Malfoy Sr. might not dare do anything really radical. All right, so he wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to be insulted when he'd been bloody invited!

"I don't even want to be within your ruddy walls! You can keep them and everything else inside them to yourself!" Severus was yelling he was so angry, mostly at himself for being so stupid to accept this invitation, but also at Lucius for putting him in this situation. Severus stormed past Abraxas and quickly went to the Floo he'd arrived through and returned home, hoping he wouldn't be faced with his father on the other side. That would just add insult to injury.

Chapter 7

Lucius looked up the house, wondering how anybody could bear to live in a hovel like that. Spinner's End… what kind of name was that even, for a home. It sounded more like a big fat spiders sticky web. A few of the windows were lit from the inside and now it was a question of figuring out which of those windows was Severus. He felt somewhat silly for doing it, and he'd been very reluctant about asking Regulus for Snape's address. A question that had earned him a good round of taunting, which in turn had earned Regulus a good round of boils on his arse. But now it would be all over his friends and they wouldn't leave it be. He knew they wouldn't, now that they finally had something on him.

He looked around furtively, but the street was empty and still, most of the houses further down the road dark. Then he mounted his broom and slowly floated up to the first windows, putting enough distance between him and them, so he wouldn't be spotted. The first window was the kitchen where he saw Mrs. Snape doing the dishes, the Muggle way. Lucius wrinkled his nose and looked past her at the man sitting at the table behind the woman. That had to be Mr. Snape then, the Muggle. He looked a lot like Severus.

But he wasn't here to do Muggle spotting. He was here to talk to Severus and somehow make up for the abrupt and harsh interruption of their last conversation. As expected, Abraxas had mellowed quickly enough, when the much hated Mudblood had left the premises and Lucius hadn't said anything about it. No reason to test the limits of his father's patience. Not just yet.

The next window showed him a small shabby sitting room. Merlin… Quickly he continued further up and there he was, Severus, bent over his desk with a mass of notes, the tip of his nose nearly touching the paper as he scribbled notes at a furious pace. Severus' entire posture spoke of deep concentration and Lucius wasn't sure he'd ever seen anything more … attractive in his life. Hovering, he closed in on the window until he could tap it lightly with his wand after casting a light Lumos. Just enough to enable Severus to see him.

At the small sound Severus twitched, making a long squiggly line up through his notes. Cursing a blue streak he looked around for the source, then very nearly squeaked at the ghostly apparition of flowing white hair and pale face, hovering in the dark night outside his window, lit up by an eerie light. After a few seconds he recognised the face and frowned, not sure if he should be angry or pleased that Lucius Malfoy had travelled all the way to his house just to see him. For now, he chose angry, or at least perturbed, and took his time collecting the notes and putting them away, so they wouldn't get caught by a gust of wind, when he opened the window.

Lucius smiled wide and warmly when the window opened and a rush of warmer air met him. The night was balmy and beautiful, and hadn't the house been so decrepit and hadn't a couple of alley cats not been fighting a few houses over, it would almost have been … romantic.

Romantic?

"Hello." He greeted Severus' grumpy expression, more pleased to see him than made sense.

"You say that a lot, don't you?" Severus growled, still aiming towards perturbed, but failing at the smile on Lucius' face.

"Well, I seem to be running into you in the oddest places, and saying hello seems to be the polite convention."

"Yes, and of course you've learned how to be polite from home." No, Severus wasn't going to let that one slide easily.

Lucius' smile faded a fraction. "I want to apologise for that. I thought they wouldn't be home all afternoon. But my mother felt ill and they came home earlier." How easily that apology flowed from Lucius' lips, almost as if he'd practised it. He hadn't but … he wanted to show Severus he was sorry.

"Hmph." Severus stared at Lucius for a long moment, torn between wanting to believe him and telling him to sod off. "All right. Why are you here?" It was uncomfortable doing this, knowing his father was just downstairs and any moment could stalk up the stairs to check out if he was doing any of that filthy magic. And Severus didn't think finding another wizard hovering on a broom outside his window would be any better in that connection.

"We didn't finish our conversation."

"Didn't we? I had the impression it was quite finished." That fluttery feeling was coming back to Severus' heart and he didn't like it. It made his brain stutter and his breath speed up and he didn't want Lucius to affect him like that.

"No," Lucius murmured and pushed closer with his broom until he was as close as he'd been the other day. "You were going to tell me what you liked, when we were rudely interrupted."

"And you think we're less likely to be interrupted here? You're daft. My father is downstairs and you're in a Muggle area. Are you aiming towards a career at Azkaban?" Lucius needed to leave, now. Before Severus did or said something he'd regret, and before his father came up the stairs.

Lucius laughed softly and reached out to steady himself against the window frame, his hand coming to rest right next to Severus'. "We don't have to talk… you could also show me?" A hopeful – probably in vain – tone entered his voice, because he hoped it might give Severus an incentive to act on the invitation it really was. Their faces were so close…

"Show you? Should I mime or perhaps draw a diagram?" Severus rolled his eyes and shook his head "Go home, Malfoy. Your kind shouldn't be here." No, Severus' kind and Malfoy's kind shouldn't enter each others' areas. That only caused trouble, always. He started to close the window, but was stopped by Lucius' hand on his wrist. A light grip, but still firm.

"I don't want to go home, Severus." Lucius used the grip to pull himself as close as possible, because he was losing the grip on almost everything else in this situation with Severus. Even on himself. "I want to kiss you."

Now Severus was getting really angry. Not only was Malfoy restraining him, he was also mocking him. As if that bastard would ever be interested in somebody like Severus "Let go of me!" He hissed and yanked his arm away, making Lucius bang against the side of the house and the window.

It hurt, but Lucius didn't let go "No. Not before you tell me what you were going to say before my father came in."

Something in Lucius' eyes made Severus hesitate, made his insides flip and his mind stall. "I wasn't going to say anything," he said without much conviction.

"Yes, you were… I told you I like you. And now I've told you I'd like to kiss you… what more do you want from me? I can't help I'm a Malfoy, just like it's not your fault you're a Snape. That's just how it is, but should it matter? What's in a name that holds more importance than what's in a heart? Does a rose not smell just as sweetly if called something else?" Lucius was walking a thin line of understanding between his ingrained prejudices, well learned through years of indoctrination, and his desire to figure out what Severus Snape was about, and also what that feeling deep in his chest and stomach when he was faced with Severus Snape was about. It felt more important than names and bloodlines. Far more important. But would Severus understand how far outside his own shadow Lucius had stepped just by being here? Was he even making sense, to himself?

Severus didn't know what to say to that. He didn't know what he wanted or what he thought of Lucius' words. It was completely surreal, to have Lucius Malfoy of all, outside his window, somehow proclaiming something that came very close to … love? But they'd only met two … no, three times now. No love came that fast, that only existed in books and fairy tales. But what's that in your stomach then? Wriggling around in the best way possible, when he's talking like that? Looking like that? Merlin, he didn't know! "I don't know."

Well, that answered exactly nothing for Lucius but judging from Severus' expression, that was probably the best he'd get right now. "I know though…even if I don't know why." There, now he was making just as little sense as Severus, and they were at the same level. That felt oddly good and Lucius sniggered softly, utterly amused in a nervous way. The butterflies were back and there was only one way to chase them away. Once more using his hold on Severus' wrist to pull himself closer, he closed the distance between them and pressed a crooked and awkward kiss against Severus' lips. It was just about the best kiss he'd ever had, dizzying and the kind that took your breath away and made your heart pound.

Everything stopped for Severus when Lucius suddenly closed in and kissed him. He couldn't breathe or move or even think. He could only think about how amazingly soft those lips were and how Lucius' nose felt, all squashed against his own. So awkward and so perfect. He panted, when Lucius finally drew an inch away, their breaths mingling between them. "You have to go." This was so much trouble, it couldn't happen. Severus couldn't let it happen.

"I don't want to," Lucius said, almost speaking against Severus' lips. "You kissed me."

"You kissed me," Severus insisted.

"Semantics. We kissed each other."

"You were holding on to me, I didn't have a choice."

"Bollocks, you liked it." A tiny smug smile played on Lucius' lips.

"No, I didn't." Severus scowled, because Lucius looked too smug, as if he'd won something.

"Yes, you did. Tell me honestly you didn't like it, that you don't like me, and I'll let you go." Lucius was bluffing, because he wasn't going to let go of Severus Snape that easily.

Honestly, Severus couldn't say that though. He could lie, easily even, but … but he couldn't. "I-"

The door burst open and Tobias Snape stormed into the room, within seconds grabbing hold of his son who was apparently … snogging somebody outside the window. His eyes widened when he saw who exactly that 'somebody' was. He knew that smug visage from Eileen's pictures. Malfoy's son. That little shit!

A boy, kissing his son. His son, kissing not only a boy, but also a wizard and even one of those wizards.

"Get away from my son, you filthy freak!" He screamed, livid in his drunken stupor, and grabbed the first thing that came to his hand. It happened to be Severus' inkwell, and it was hurled against Malfoy, who deftly ducked and didn't budge.

Startlingly immense protective feelings welled up inside Lucius when he saw Severus wincing and nearly forced into a crouch by the strong hold on his wrist. And he wanted nothing more than cursing that Muggle bastard to tiny little bits. But he couldn't do that. He couldn’t do anything and the helpless fury made him sneer "Take your hands off Severus! He's done nothing wrong!"

"Let me go!" Severus chimed in, trying to think past the pain in his wrist that felt either sprained or broken, he wasn't sure. And then things turned even worse, his mother's agitated voice joining in the fray.

"Let him go, Tobias!" she yelled, frantically trying to pry her husband's fingers off her son's wrist.

"Get away woman!" Tobias snarled. "Your little freak of a son is a ruddy fairy, going around kissing boys! I'm done with this! He's not going back to that school! It's corrupting him, making him strange in the head!" Seemingly forgetting all about Lucius, who was staring at the scene of domestic violence with disbelief, Tobias wrenched Severus' wrist even more, making the boy yelp in pain. "Give me your wand, boy! You won't need it anymore!"

When Severus failed to follow orders immediately, Tobias started tearing at his pockets and was soon rewarded with that hated stick of wood that held so much evil. With a triumphant expression he tossed Severus to the side and finally remembered Lucius again.

"And you're leaving, or I'll report you to that ministry of yours! I'm sure they have a special place for little faggots like you!" With that Tobias slammed the window shut and locked it securely.

Adrenaline rushed through Lucius' veins. He couldn't believe what he'd just seen. Why were they putting up with that? They could hex him… have the Ministry Obliviate him and push him back to where he belonged, among the Muggles. He didn't want to leave, but he was in a place he shouldn't be, and if Mr. Snape followed through on his threat, he'd possibly be in trouble. Either with the Ministry or – which was a more likely possibility – with father. But the last word wasn't spoken in this matter. He wasn't going to allow a simple Muggle do that to Severus, keeping him from Hogwarts and magic. That was just not on! Fuming with anger, he Apparated home and started firecalling his friends. They needed to deal with this, swiftly.

Chapter 8

Severus was effectively helpless. His wrist was badly sprained and it hurt just thinking about it. He was locked in his room with no books, no notes and most importantly, no wand.

No magic.

And mother wasn't allowed to even see him. Tobias Snape had with scaring determination taken over full control of his household and had also stopped drinking. A drunk Tobias was bad enough, but a sober…

Severus was pacing, frantically searching for ways to get out of this and coming up empty handed. He was losing his mind and surely Lucius Malfoy wouldn't even think twice of all this, disgusted by how Severus' family acted. With a whimper he'd never let anybody but himself hear, he flopped on the bed and glared at the ceiling. There had to be a way to contact Dumbledore. Dumbledore would help.

-

Rallying his friends around the cause of getting Severus out of Tobias Snape's control was more difficult that Lucius had expected. They actually couldn't care less, with Sirius even having the gall of sniggering behind a hand and muttering something about Snivellus. Lucius swooped down over the younger boy, grabbed him by the scruff and growled "If you call him that ever again, I'll sodding hex your arse off, and your balls too!"

"Oi, no reason to become abusive, Lucius. Just because you can't get to your new lapdog." Sirius drawled, unimpressed. Malfoy wouldn't dare do anything. "You're better off without that git, and so is Hogwarts."

"Fuckwit." With disgust, Lucius pushed away from Sirius and started pacing. He should've known they wouldn't help. Worthless idiots. "I guess I'll just have to find others who'll help me." Severus' friends. Yes, they would help if he could get them to shut up for long enough to say something. "Get out, the lot of you. You make me sick!" With that Lucius turned away and left the sitting room, leaving his somewhat confused friends behind.

-

"I promise I'll get you out of here, Severus." Eileen whispered, her forehead pressed against the cool door, using the pressure to keep herself together.

"Owl Dumbledore, he'll help you. Or Slughorn. Or both…" Severus whispered back, wishing he could somehow melt through the door. And also wishing he could take his mother with him, when he left. Because he was leaving, some way or other.

"I will… now hush and go to bed, your father will wake up soon." Carefully she slid a small envelope under the door, holding a couple of Muggle painkillers.

Snape stared at the pills and knew she meant well. But he'd rather cry with pain than touch anything Mugglish anymore. "Thanks, mum," he said softly, purposefully addressing her like he had until he'd been old enough to know the difference between correct and incorrect pronunciation of words. There was no immediate response from the other side of the door that he could hear, but he knew she was still there.

"I love you. We'll sort this out." And with that Eileen rose and left, hurrying downstairs to make breakfast for her husband.

-

"Why would we believe you, Malfoy?" Avery looked suspiciously at the boy, not quite understanding what the heck the snob was on about. Severus trapped, in his own home, without his wand? That was just stupid, to think they'd believe that. Malfoy was having them on. It was probably a trap, so they'd get caught doing underage magic.

"Because I saw it, I was there! At Spinner's End! I saw how Mr. Snape took Severus' wand!" Lucius was getting very tired of this foolishness. Why wouldn't anybody help him?

"Sure, and I'm the queen of Sheba," Rosier said mockingly.

"Yeah, you're a queen all right," Wilkes chirped, earning himself a shove from Rosier that toppled him off his chair and onto the floor, laughing.

"Shut up, you dimwits! Didn't you hear me? Don't you care about your friend at all?" Lucius felt like flailing, preferably while shooting hexes at these insults to the Wizarding race!

"Oh come off it, Malfoy. Nobody wants to play your little games. Severus is just helping his father out at the shop, so he won't be able to be around much. He'll turn up. Go play with your own little friends." And with that they wandered off, leaving Lucius alone at the table in the Leaky Cauldron. Lucius didn't know what to do. He couldn't ask father for help, for obvious reasons. Then who?

Dumbledore. He was powerful and even if he apparently didn't care about Slytherins from what the others said, he's surely help a fellow wizard and a student of his out.

-

Albus looked at the two very different and yet so alike letters he'd received. One from Eileen Prince Snape and one from Lucius Malfoy. Both letters had been equally unexpected and it was enough of a puzzle, that it had made him cancel his morning meeting with Minerva in order to read them.

The letters' content made him frown with worry. Severus Snape was a brilliant student, one of the best and constantly received praise from his professors, even if his attitude was terribly abrasive. There was no way he could not help with this. Nobody had the right to keep a wizard or a witch undeservingly and forcefully away from their magic. Not even parents.

He summoned Slughorn, who apparently also had received a letter from Eileen Prince, a favoured student of his, and together they sat down to find a way to extract the boy from his apparent imprisonment.

-

In the meanwhile though. Tobias had become sufficiently angry with his son's stubborn refusal to adapt to Muggle life after three days of house arrest, he thought it was time for a little lesson. A harrowing but useful trip to that Ministry of theirs took care of Severus' little 'boyfriend' and Tobias took great pleasure in telling his son, if he ever wanted to see Malfoy again, he might consider Azkaban.

Severus didn't believe him. Not until the Aurors showed up the next morning, snooping around outside, obviously tracing magical signatures. Lucius had been using his broom, and casting a Lumos. Which was bad enough, in a Muggle area. But he couldn't believe it was enough to send Lucius to prison.

It would however be enough to get him into a load of trouble with his father. Severus groaned and wished the Aurors would look up and see him, take him away from this place. But there was no such luck for Severus Snape.

-

There was no luck for Lucius either, which he found out very quickly after returning home the next day. The Auror standing next to father, looking sternly at Lucius, was a dead give away that something was wrong. Had Snape Sr. actually gone to the Ministry?

After a very long talk with plenty of law reciting and chastising, Lucius was left alone with his father. He almost wished the Auror had taken him with him, when he met Abraxas Malfoy's cold angry eyes. When he found himself confined for the summer in his rooms, without a wand, without any means of contact with the outside world, he knew he'd made a big mistake.

Not with going after Severus, or even standing up to Severus' father. No, he wouldn't regret that or view it as mistakes. But in not leaving at the same time as the Auror. Or even long before. Perhaps he shouldn't even have come back after the end of the semester. He was of age, he could live on his own and do what he wanted. Father shouldn't have this power over him anymore and Lucius was angry with himself for allowing it.

His luck didn't improve when an owl arrived from Albus Dumbledore, where the headmaster promised that he would do all in his power to remove Severus from Spinners End and bring him to Hogwarts. The owl was intercepted by Abraxas and the way he reacted made Lucius wonder if he'd ever see daylight again on this side of the century. And there was nobody to help him, mother apparently equally appalled at his deviant behaviour. And Lucius was afraid the owl from Dumbledore had said there was no way to help Severus, since Severus wasn't of age yet. It was all so unfair. They'd done nothing to deserve this. Nothing! It was tearing him apart and he couldn't understand how he could feel so strongly about it, about Severus…

God, you're such a twat, Malfoy. Get yourself together and get out of here. You know you can, if you put yourself to the task. Chiding himself mostly helped and it did this time too, making him think of all the possibilities he had of getting out of here.

Chapter 9

Being devious was probably not something most people connected with Albus Dumbledore, but he was quite proficient in that area and together with Slughorn, he was practically unstoppable. This required finesse, else Tobias Snape would make a terrible ruckus and this would all be for naught, since Severus Snape was still underage and thus under the complete authority of his parents.

That would have to change, and he needed to eradicate certain things in Severus' life, in order to do that. It would also involve Eileen Snape, soon to be Prince again. Hopefully. It saddened him to see such a talented witch wither and slowly die under the violent hands of a man.

Eileen was expectedly reluctant, but considering her and her son's circumstances, she agreed she had run out of choices, if she wanted her son to have a future in the Wizarding World. Slughorn did his best as well, to convince her, appealing to the Slytherin in her, the ambitious witch he'd expected so much from.

Two small vials exchanged owners and there was a certain spring to Eileen Prince Snape's walk, as she returned home to think it all through carefully, slowly putting the plan into action.

Severus was also hesitant, picking at the small flaws in the plan even if they weren't flaws at all. He just couldn't believe it could be done so … easily. And also that his mother would be included. It was too good to be true.

-

When Dumbledore received his second letter from a Malfoy within a fortnight, he was truly amazed. Had the world somehow tilted on its axis, shifting seemingly fixed things out of alignment?

Suddenly he didn't have two, but three people to save. Although, he doubted Malfoy needed saving as badly as Severus and his mother. It was a just as delicate matter though, given Lucius Malfoy's father, and the influence he held at the Ministry. Even if Lucius was of age, it could be a tricky matter to wrench the boy out of Abraxas' hands if the man was really determined to prevent it. At least, the mother agreed it was necessary to remove Lucius to a better place than locked up in his rooms until he returned to Durmstrang, which most likely would upkeep that state of affairs until Abraxas felt his son had learned his lesson.

And then there was the mystery about how Severus Snape was connected to Lucius Malfoy, in a way that created so many problems and such harsh punishments from their fathers. It made him wonder… it made him wonder a lot. He would have to ask the boys, once they arrived at Hogwarts and he figured that would be a very interesting conversation. But first he needed to speak with Slughorn for another one of those small vials, and then Mrs Malfoy. Perhaps she would even be able to shed more light on the connection between Lucius and Severus. He didn't trust her far enough to share the plans for Severus and his mother with her though. That was better left a secret.

Chapter 10

Tobias didn't believe his eyes. It couldn't be true… she hadn't done that. She couldn't have done that… it was impossible! And yet, there they were, his wife and his son, dead on the floor before him, a note on the table and two empty vials, one in each of their palms. He needed a drink, badly. And … suddenly panic struck him. Perhaps they would believe he'd done something to them. That he'd killed them. Perhaps they would seek him out and get revenge? Oh god, what had he done!? Ashen faced, Tobias rushed around the house, picking out his things and packing them haphazardly so he could get away, far away from this cursed place. He wished he'd never heard of Eileen Prince! Wished he could forget it all.

10 hours later, the two vial portkeys activated, bringing the seemingly dead mother and son to the almost deserted Hogwarts and right into the Infirmary, where they were instantly taken care of. Before long, they woke up, trying to comprehend that they'd be starting a new life.

-

Lucius stared at the vial and then his mother. He still didn't quite believe her, but why would she lie? Why would she give him a potion and tell him it would solve the problem, unless it was something that would be good for him? He had to trust her, being left with no choice right now. And without the prospect of seeing Severus anytime soon, perhaps even for a year where so many horrible things could happen to him; A time, where he might start to hate Lucius for putting him in that situation. That thought hurt far more than he'd expected and was what finally convinced him. If he'd get out, he could try once more to get to Severus. At least he'd have the option then, instead of sitting around here.

When the House Elf the next morning found the young master lifeless on the floor, there was a lot of screeching, pulling of ears and hair, crying and wailing. One however, was almost as deadly still as his son. Abraxas stood like a frozen pillar, simply staring at Lucius and not believing his own eyes. It couldn't be. His only son and heir wasn't dead. It was all a trick, an illusion to scare him and make him ease up his punishment. But every examination of the house healer told the same, Lucius Malfoy was dead by poisoning and beyond recall. There was nothing to be done and a burial should be arranged.

Lucius couldn't be dead. His son could not be dead! If he kept repeating it often enough, perhaps it would become truth. Perhaps reality would return then and replace this nightmare. 5 hours later, he was still sitting at his desk, staring at Lucius' wand, unresponsive.

Mrs Malfoy was very calm, even if it was obvious she had cried plenty and was on the verge of it constantly. But it was expected that she didn't break down, that she upheld the façade, that she took care of things now that her son was dead and her husband in a grief induced stupor. When the news hit the Wizarding World, which happened with lightning speed, there was widespread disbelief, that the handsome and successful young heir truly had committed suicide at the cusp of his adulthood. Why would he do such a thing, with such wonderful prospects in his future? He had everything!

To avoid more attention than absolutely necessary, the funeral was organised swiftly and performed privately the next morning on the Malfoy grounds with only the closest relatives and friends present. Once more Mrs. Malfoy stoically upheld her façade. Perhaps a little better than most, but she was a strong woman and many praised her for her strength in the face of such pain.

She was on a tight schedule though, and since she'd always been a master planner of tight schedules, the timing was perfect. The portkey woven into her son's burial robes activated at the same time as the coffin settled against the ground of the grave.

Chapter 11

Even if he knew it wasn't true, Severus couldn't help feeling nauseous about the morning news. Lucius Malfoy dead… suicide, tragic loss to the Wizarding World… Lucius wasn't dead, he knew that. But just reading about it scared him. So many things could go wrong. What if Malfoy Sr. insisted on a burial pyre? It was still used after all, in some circles of the pureblood world. Eileen helplessly watched her son pace the floor of her tiny sitting room, the pinched expression on his face telling her how scared and frustrated he was.

Dumbledore had spoken with them the night before, finally revealing the plans for Lucius Malfoy. Severus had been quite speechless during the entire meeting, not believing how his Headmaster had come up with something so … insane. You couldn't just pretend Lucius Malfoy was dead and then suddenly reveal he wasn't dead at all. But he hadn't listened very carefully after the initial words, too busy with worrying about what all could go wrong with Dumbledore's plan and at the same time rejoicing that he might see Lucius again. Had he listened, he would've understood the intricacies of the plan better.

Severus didn't care though, since the most important thing was… Lucius was coming here to Hogwarts. He was going to see him again. It was almost too good after the last horrid weeks. It was killing him though, that he couldn't do anything other than wait, and pace, and wait, and hope. Finally he lost it and stalked out of the room, down the many steps of the tower and out through the court yard until he was fully outside in the sunshine. He found his favourite tree and plonked down beneath it, staring blankly at the Squid's tentacles as they lazily waved over the waters now and then.

He was still sitting there when the shadows started cooling slightly, his head cradled in his hands, his elbows on his knees. He didn't want to go inside. He'd go barking mad waiting in there, if he heard one more time that he shouldn't worry. Out here, alone, it was easier.

"Watching you sit like that makes me wish I were your hands. Then I could touch your cheeks and not worry about anything else."

Severus jerked and straightened up at the low soft voice in his ear. When he turned his head he was faced with Lucius Malfoy. A slightly pale and shaky looking Lucius Malfoy, but still the real thing and not a ghost.

"You're a fool." Severus said, smiling too much for the insult to really sting.

Lucius chuckled, already feeling somewhat silly from his soppy romantic line "I'm a fool then. A stubborn and officially dead fool. I'm still waiting for your answer to my question though. You owe me that."

Severus blinked, not understanding. "What do you mean?"

"Every time I've asked you that question, we've been interrupted. I swear, I'm going to hex the next one who interrupts into the next decade! Now tell me, honestly… what do you like?" Lucius was almost afraid he was tempting fate by saying that. But third time's the charm, right?

Oh… Severus finally understood and he couldn't help grinning a little.

"I-" This time Severus was interrupted in a rather good way though, and he would be a lot Lucius wouldn't do any hexing for it, and neither would Severus. He hummed against Lucius' lips, their faces this time better aligned, much better. So well in fact, that Lucius deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue against Severus'. Twin moans sounded, so low they were almost inaudible to anybody else but them.

The kiss went on and on and Severus was afraid he might just die from how good it felt to have Lucius' tongue slide over his lips, between them, into his mouth, kissing him more deeply and more sweetly than he'd ever thought possible. It was sloppy and wet and so hungry, it was fantastic. Severus wondered if love always felt this good, because it could only be that. Not liking, but loving.

Lucius usually thought quite a lot while kissing, assessing his partner's reactions, calculating his next steps, repeating the things that brought moans, disbanding things that gave nothing. He never truly gave himself in to a kiss. He did now though, forgetting the fear and pain that had controlled his world the past weeks and only focusing on kissing Severus and feeling how the other boy kissed him back.

That was all the answer he really needed.

The End.