Soooo I actually got inspired to do this a couple of days ago, just sitting out under a canopy in my backyard. Its warm here in Southern California even in February. And speaking of February, I have the honor of sharing a birthday with Alan Rickman. Which is tomorrow! (Feb 21) So in honor of him and uh, me I guess, I decided to post this Snucius goodness. (Hurray). Hope you enjoy this summer romance story...uh thing. Right! Thanks for reading.
Severus did his best to shut out his thoughts and for once just enjoy the world around him. Ignoring the stinging notion that like all good things, this was temporary. He'd only been with the Malfoy's two days and already he was preparing himself for the crushing melancholy of returning to Hogwarts in eight weeks. It was a subconscious defense for himself, the deep cut of disappointment was more than he could bear. He could feel his friendship with Lily waning and so the idea that there was anything good left in this world for him was a dangerous illusion. This is what he told himself, its what he believed. To spare himself the pain of his inevitable loneliness. Already he'd resided himself to a life of solitude, a life of safety and protection from others.
Lucius, Severus had to admit, was a strange chap. He never acted out of line from what he remembered at school yet always seemed to surprise Severus with his behavior. For instance, at the moment they both laid in the grass underneath an aging willow tree. Being that Cokeworth was so ugly and hardly tolerable in the summer, with the heat baring down on the streets that elicited a putrid smell of spoiled meat and sewage. The river was solid brown and posed no desire to swim in.
So Severus took well to the Malfoy garden. Miles of lush grass and square hedges forming a maze at the end of the estate. Between all that were several marble and iron fountains home to exotic fish and water flowers. Every kind of tree Severus could imagine stood tall and proud on the property. The plant life here was bursting with color and vitality. Alive and beautiful, growing tall, growing in prosperity.
The swaying branches and natural song of birds lulled Severus into a light slumber. Confused and slightly discomforted by Lucius' presence drifted as the summer breeze cradled his mind into aloofness. The scenario, as it were, was strange enough by description let alone the visual of the most despised, greasy pauper in their world, laying in the grass next to the most refined, well liked, landowner in all of wizarding Britain.
For reasons quite beyond Severus' comprehension, Lucius had taken a shine to him. Lucius Malfoy welcomed and sheltered a very poor and unknown first year from the moment he was sorted into Slytherin. Even then it dawned on Severus this was beyond curious but for a while ignored it as something of a duty for him being a prefect. Yet it continued into his second and third year until Lucius had just graduated and now lay basking in the sunlight of his last summer of innocence. How Severus ended up in the spot next to him was from what he gathered a lot of pestering to his father who conceded to his son's whims if only Lucius would get serious about running the winery and apothecary as was his destiny. As to why exactly, Severus was spending his summer with the Malfoy's at Lucius' behest instead of sweltering, smelly Cokeworth was still very much a mystery.
Severus figured a wealthy only child about to embark on the pressures of upholding a valiant family name made him lonely. Not to mention stressed beyond imagining. It wasn't Lucius' desire for companionship during what might as well be his last summer as a careless child, but that he, Severus Snape, supreme git of the universe was chosen for what must have been a coveted position.
He tried very much not to question it. At least outwardly. A letter had been sent to his mother who to Severus' understanding accepted with delight knowing that her son would be embarking on a social learning experience. As she had put it. Connections were key in their world, and since hardly anyone made themselves wealthy of their own merit, special skills and networking were essential in making one beyond their original means. Nowadays anyway.
"Ah, I miss Hogwarts." Lucius mused out of what had to be an hour of silence, sans the twittering birds and dancing branches above them. "You'll miss it too, someday."
"Doubtful." Severus snapped back. He made no reservations to Lucius about his true admiration for him, but also did not slather him in the undue reverence that everyone else poured over him. For what? Being wealthy? Gorgeous? Charming to a fault, and pompous in the knowledge that he always knew or rather had something others didn't. He was no slouch with a wand or potions either. Those things Severus praised and respected, useful things, things that actually took effort and work.
"Come now Severus." Lucius waved his hand dismissively. "Are you so eager to be done with school and out in this horrid world of duty and responsibility?"
"Perhaps you've forgotten that without you around, I'm a shining beacon for the marauders and other idiots to gang up on." He said it so dryly, as though it didn't bother him in the slightest that he had to learn how to use glamours to hide the bruises and scratches, gifts from Gryffindor's finest. He'd never let them see his wounds, never give them that satisfaction.
"I could teach you some defensive spells. I was president of our dueling club three years-"
"I don't need your help Lucius." He turned over, away from the only person who'd been kind to him without obligation.
"Well at any rate I'm sure if you asked around, there'd be plenty of volunteers to help you beat down some lion scum." Lucius said proudly, no doubt imagining himself taking out all four of Severus' bullies with two shots of his wand.
"You seem to be mistaking my popularity with your own. Its natural of course. Everyone else thinks of you, why should you be any different?"
"Severus you wound me. I don't just consider myself, why else would you be here?"
"Do you mean to say that I'm here merely on the basis of you tutoring me in defensive spells?" He turned back over and lay on his side, facing Lucius who only moved his head over.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Why then, am I here?"
"You're asking now?" Lucuis then mimicked his posture, propping his head up with his arm and smirked at his friend. "Seems these inquires should have been placed long ago." He put up his hand to silence Severus who was about to answer him. "But then I can see why you may not want to push your newly acquired luck. Anyway, as I said before, and I wasn't lying, that it does get dreadfully lonely not to mention boring here in the summer. So I requested that I have a school companion to keep me occupied while my parents spend their first two weeks of the summer in France."
"But then I'm here all eight weeks?"
"Naturally that took some bargaining but I wouldn't be a very good Malfoy if I couldn't wing my way into what I want." Severus almost choked on the smugness exalting from Lucius yet nodded in acceptance. After all, he'd promised himself he wouldn't question his good fortune. "Isn't it exciting? We have the whole manor to ourselves, save for the wretched house elves but honestly after a while you'll forget their even there."
"Exciting?" Severus raised a brow waiting for Lucius to elaborate.
"My father has a vault that I've been dying to get into. I'm not supposed to see inside until he's long dead." Severus choked on Lucius' frankness and after a few coughs composed himself long enough for Lucius to continue. "The only way in is to translate the pass phrase,-"
"You know" Severus interrupted. "Languages are not my forte. I'm afraid you've wasted your generosity on me."
"What the devil are you talking about?"
"Don't insult us both Lucius. You invited me here so I could translate some ancient text to allow you access into your father's study, safe, whatever. And I'm afraid that outside of English and a fare bit of Latin, I'm useless to you."
Lucius sat up and held himself with laughter. Severus wasn't sure if it was because of the irony or if he'd lost it and was about to retaliate with anger. "Oh Severus," He wiped his eye free of a tear. "Are you so in awe of other's liking you that you create these scenarios in which you are only valued at what you can give others?"
"I assure you these are not imaginary precautions."
"Oh perhaps not. Forgive me my friend. What I meant was that I already have the pass phrase. However I'm not sure what I am to find, should something happen to me or if perhaps some kind of dark magic resides inside, gods forbid, I should like to have someone competent and reliable to ensure I don't come out missing a limb or something dreadful."
"Dark artifacts, and the like, you're certain your father's vault poses that much of a threat?"
"Oh you don't know Abraxas Malfoy. Paranoid as the day is long. My family is old, and we have many curious object in our possession. Some even, perhaps, not entirely legal."
"Why would you risk your father's scorn and your family's name to someone who may just turn around and rat you out?"
Lucius' smile unnerved Severus. Though the glint in his eyes that accompanied it shot Severus' heart into a fit. Pumping furiously into anxiety that he had no control over. "You won't betray me." Lucius went on. "We're Slytherin, and that means we're brothers. Right?" Lucius stood and extended his hand for Severus to take. For a moment he stared into Lucius' gray eyes and searched tirelessly for deceit. Nothing. Not nothing, curiosity and ambition coiled around his iris and stood challenging back at his own black orbs. Severus took Lucius' hand and braced himself to be dropped and laughed at by the older wizard. Instead, his grip tightened around Severus' hand and once on his feet, Lucius patted his shoulder and led them into the house.
The corridors in the manor were wide, dark and littered with fierce looking portraits of former Malfoys. Severus was thankful that none of them were sentient as they would certainly not welcome a half-blood walking past them. It seemed all the pure-bloods knew who was and wasn't of their regal status. Perhaps that was because so few pure families existed any longer. As it were, Severus was what Lucius called, a true half-blood. Meaning that one parent was pure through and through while the other was a muggle. As opposed to others who called themselves half-blood with parents who were already half-blood themselves or even less. It was a technicality most didn't bother to differentiate or even define properly. For most you were either pure, half or muggle born.
Severus himself, found no real comfort in the distinction but it seemed to put him in a better light with the Malfoys so he simply did not dispute it. If being a true half-blood kept him at the manor and away from Cokeworth for this summer and if he was lucky, his remaining summers he wasn't about to object.
They came to a long hallway with a single door at its end. Blackwood with a pewter handle stood with a silent foreboding stature. Its very appearance gave an air of apprehension to Severus who would turn back on his own accord had Lucius not been so insistent. The way Lucius talked about him, made Severus want to stay and prove he was all that he had said. Competent and reliable. Lucius ran his hand over the door until about half way down he laid his palm flat and spoke in a language that came out in strange whispers. After a moment of an eerie silence, the bolt lock clicked free. Lucius smirked up at Severus whose mouth about unhinged itself in awe.
"Y-you're a parslemouth?" He stuttered out.
"Of course not. The password is in parsletongue but one need not understand the language completely to speak simple phrases." With a light push the door creaked open. Lucius was no fool and correctly predicted that his father would have set wards in place to protect what was essentially their family secrets. Before stepping inside he sent a detection spell across the entire study. Fortunately for the boys, only a binding circle lay in the doorway. A powerful one that would paralyze the intruder and alert the casting wizard, but now that they could see it, the trap was easy enough to avoid. Severus carefully stepped around the circle and followed Lucius inside.
The room itself was nothing special, at least not from the rest of the house. Dark wood floors, a desk and lavish couches near the fireplace. Two wall sized shelves flanked the sitting area, every conceivable space jammed tight with a leather bound book. That alone could keep Severus happy and occupied for a long while. He silently hoped that Lucius would let him stay long enough to enjoy even a fraction of the rare literature. Automatically Lucius lit the hearth if only to give them some extra light. He gave a small laugh at Severus who went straight for the bookshelf.
For a while they independently searched the room. Or rather, Lucius shuffled through his father's desk, taking great care to place everything exactly as it was while Severus pulled seven or eight volumes off the shelf and poured over them near the firelight.
"Anything interesting?" Lucius sighed, now disappointed in his father's practically empty desk.
"Several interesting things." Severus answered back, though he kept his eyes moving over the text. "Many of these books refer to the dark arts and the synergistic effects of certain potions."
"How dark, exactly?" Lucius moved to sit next to his friend, waving the stack of books onto the table.
"The rituals described are morally questionable at best. Some even mention blood magic. Intriguing but dangerous stuff." Severus moved his eyes to Lucius' and gave a haughty little grin. "Though, they seem simple enough to perform."
"Really?" Lucius raised a brow and chuckled with Severus who for the first time gave a genuine wide smile.
"I'm not suggesting we do so but given the ingredients and steps proposed in these books it would be rather easy to reanimate a corpse or hurt one's enemy without having to touch them."
"Perhaps we can kill James Potter without touching him, then summon his dead body to torment and laugh at." Both boys sniggered with matching nefarious grins and laughed at the remark.
"Much as that outcome would please me, I'm certain that the caster would do so at great cost."
"Oh?" Lucius leaned back into the couch and draped his arm over the headrest. "Is it mentioned in the reading?"
"No, of course not. But this type of magic doesn't come without a price. There is a reason we only learn the defense against the dark arts. Rather than using it beyond theory." Severus closed the book in his lap and handed another one to Lucius who eyed it curiously. "Anyway, I think you'll find this one more interesting."
"I don't know, it'll be hard to beat voodoo zombies." Lucius snatched the book presented to him and smiled as he read the cover. Simply inscribed in the dark leather was his last name. "Oh ho, whats this?"
"Some kind of shameful history. Every misstep, disgrace or dishonor made by a family member is chronicled here. At least, that's what I got out of it." It was at this time, that Severus realized how much trust Lucius Malfoy was placing on him. Such a strange thing for him to be in a secret study, reading about dark magic and now a dark history about one of the most prestigious families with its most promising member. Instead of shying away from this information, Lucius delighted in reading aloud some of the shorter entries to Severus. Mostly it was about extramarital affairs and a bastard child here and there. Nothing terribly taboo for the most part.
"Ah, here is something."
"Another child out of wedlock, topped off with a rushed wedding?" Severus head sank back on the arm of the couch they were sharing. Both of them had their legs stretched out towards the other.
"No no, listen here." Lucius cleared his throat. "Lusadus Malfoy has denounced his inheritance and status on his twenty-fifth birthday. Sent to a perish in northern Scotland, oh dear. Apparently he was caught in a compromising scene with a schoolmate."
Severus raised his brow. "What does that mean?"
"A male schoolmate." He finished with emphasis. "Seems they were lovers or something of that nature." A silence fell over the room. When Lucius looked up his friend was deliberately looking down at the floor. His cheeks warm with more than the firelight. His posture was stiff and frigid and so very uncomfortable. "What do you think of that sort of thing?"
"Huh?! I donno." Severus answered quickly and moved to replace the borrowed books back onto the shelf.
"Don't know?" Lucius leaned on the back of the couch and watched as Severus darted from one side of the shelf to the other. Busying his hands and mind with his task.
"No." Severus answered sharply. "I mean, its weird. I guess." He shook his head as he finished and sat down at the desk, far from his blond friend.
"You think so?"
"I've never thought much about it." He turned away again.
"About sex?" Lucius teased, with enough prodding he might get at least an amusing display of Severus' embarrassment.
"Well no. I mean, boys…with boys. But I haven't thought much about sex either." He could hardly say the word without stumble.
"Seriously?" Lucius scoffed, not convinced at all that was the truth. Everyone, boy or girl thought about sex in some capacity. Severus could parade around his virtuous thoughts all he wanted but Lucius knew better. "What about that girl you run around with? Whats her name, Evertte? No, uh Emmerson?"
"Lily Evans?"
"That's the one. You don't think about being with her?" Lucius raised an eyebrow and released a coy laugh.
"No. We're friends. That's all."
"Come now Severus, she's pretty, I mean she's a mudblood but you're not trying to marry her. You haven't thought about what she looks like under her sweater vest?"
"What?! No! Its not like that."
"Fine, then what girls do you think about?"
"I don't!" Severus said indignantly. "There are more important things to think about than a bunch of giggling, swooning girls."
"Perhaps you don't think any of them will like you?" Lucius offered which was shot down by a lethal glare. "Right well you can't think about school all the time. So if you don't think about girls, that must mean…" Lucius ducked down as a hard book was soaring his way. It landed behind the other sofa with a hard smack. "Alright alright I was only joking! I'll stop. Goodness, with that behavior you'll never find love."
They left the study as they'd found it. To bring him out of his sulk, Lucius promised Severus that if they could manage to not get caught he would bring him back to revel in the unread books. The boys had a quick dinner and retreated to Lucius chambers. Severus laid on the floor and half mindedly worked on his summer homework while Lucius prattled on about some gossip he'd read in the daily prophet. It disturbed Severus that he wasn't really listening to his friend but rather felt absolutely enthralled by the sound of his voice. He could feel his eyes drifting shut and his mind going numb as his constant chatter brought Severus warmth.
"So anyway I could not be less interested in the winery or the apothecary." Lucius finished and threw a pillow at Severus who saw it coming but did not move out of the way.
"Then what would you like to do?" He answered, internally wincing at the sound of his own voice. Nothing like Lucius', smooth and firm while his own sounded raspy and droning.
"It makes no difference. My father will insist I take charge of our legacy."
"What about when he's gone? Then could you do whatever you wanted?"
"Hm." Lucius laid back on his bed and stuffed another pillow underneath him. "I suppose I could. But who knows when he'll pass on. I don't think my happiness should revolve around when my father dies."
"It'll be a happy day when my father dies." Severus sighed and rolled onto his back. Pushing away his open book and half written essay.
"You think so?"
"He's living proof of why muggles and witches don't mix."
"From what I remember he's not a very friendly bloke is he?"
"I'll never understand why my mother married him." Severus voice dropped off. Not really answering Lucius' question.
"My parents were arranged to be married since they were fifteen." Lucius added and then sighed at his own predestined fate.
"Do you know who you'll marry?"
"Hm, its not much of a choice but my parents are giving me the illusion. It really comes down to two families of eligible girls. Black and Carrow." Lucius stuck his tongue out with a slight snarl. Severus laughed, the frightful duress any Hogwart's girl would be under had they seen him make such a face.
"Doesn't Black have three girls?"
"Yes." Lucius answered thoughtfully. "Though Andromeda is the most attractive. From what I've seen. Bellatrix is too old and frankly, she…frightens me."
"You're frightened of a girl?"
"The way I hear it, so are you." Severus chucked the pillow thrown at him back to Lucius who caught it half way on his face. "The youngest, Narcissa, she wouldn't be a terrible choice. She's docile enough. Given they have no sons, they'll be desperate to get their daughters into respectable families. In this regard, its likely I'll have the pick of the three."
"And the other family?"
"Alecto Carrow." Lucius shivered just at the thought of her. A stalk bulky woman who made his skin crawl. "Her family is pure as fallen snow but gods is she ugly. I'd make myself celibate after our first born." His voice shuddered and quickly removed thoughts of laying a hand on her. "That or take a page out of the Malfoy book and have an affair."
Severus shrugged. "It seems most of them do it anyway. I don't think you'd really be bringing in anything new."
"Ha. Unless I had an affair with a man." Lucius leaned over to see Severus' face. On cue it flushed red and he turned back on his stomach to hid his face in the rug. "Wouldn't that be something?"
"You're so weird Lucius." Severus muttered.
"You think so?"
"You could have any girl you want, even have the choice to marry three - er two of the Black girls and you're talking about being with a man."
"I just think a man would understand me better." Lucius admitted with a slight shrug.
"I don't believe what I'm hearing." He shook his head and then buried it back into the carpet.
"Well take you for example. I talk to girls all day long and its nice for a time but then they all start to sound the same to me. The things they talk about, their names and faces all just run into one messy blur. And you're right, that incessant giggle most of them have is intolerable. But then I talk to you, and I find you interesting."
"How so?" Severus peaked up from the floor but kept his eyes down.
"For one thing you have independent thoughts on an array of subjects. Frighteningly gifted at potions and always in a book when I'm not pestering you. I knew from the moment I saw you that you were special. Different."
"Don't say things like that."
"Why ever not?"
"Its just, the way you talk its like…"
"Like…?" Lucius slid to the edge of the bed. Laying on his stomach peering down at Severus who dared not to take his stare away from the floor.
"I donno." He huffed a piece of hair out of his eyes. "Like…you like me."
"I do like you."
"No, I mean…how boys like girls."
"What if I do?" It was quiet for a long time. Or at least what seemed a long time. It may have been only a minute or two but in their minds it stretched on for eternity.
"Lucius, stop messing around. I'm not buying it for one minute." Severus laughed nervously and found the courage to sit up and look him in the eye.
"I'm being serious." He said plainly and waited eagerly for his reply.
"No you're not. You're waiting for me to say something stupid and then you'll just laugh at me."
"I'm afraid you're mistaken. I think I like you Severus."
"No, you- just-" Severus shook his head and after a few breaths tried to regain control. Yet every time he looked up at those gray eyes he found his mouth being very uncooperative. Stuttering into incoherent babble that frustrated him.
"Perhaps if we kissed-"
"I beg your pardon!"
"That's how you know, if you like someone. When I was in my second year I kissed Treanna Yesel, I had a crush on her but after we kissed I knew she wasn't-"
"That's different!" Severus jumped to his feet and began pacing. Frantically processing all that was being said and fighting back the urge to relent to Lucius' curiosity. "A peck on the lips doesn't count."
"Ah well then more conclusive research is needed. But seeing as how Miss Yesel is not present and you are, you will have to stand in for her." Already he was making light of this. It was his way of combating the nagging thought that he very much wanted to kiss his friend. That it was more than curiosity. A need pulsing in him for how long he could not remember. But it did not revolt Lucius when he pictured it in his mind, or proposed the idea out loud. No, it sparked his heart to a pounding thud he both loved and hated. The rise of anxiety coursing through him, like Severus he trembled but was able to hide it in his false casual demeanor. Lucius stood and crept over to Severus who by the time realized how close they were had been trapped by the wall and his friend.
"Lucius…" He looked away, flushed and nervous but he did not move or push him aside.
"Think of it this way, it'll give you some practice for when you kiss a girl." Severus' stomach turned over, the wretched truth blaring in this thoughts, he didn't want to kiss any girl. But he had wanted Lucius for a while now. The idea was shoved away in box, hiding in the darkest corner of his mind but every so often he acknowledged and even opened the box. The fear of him embarking on his friend's request and enjoying it, not being able to do it again, made his throat dry.
Lucius placed a hand on Severus' cheek and held his stare down at the younger boy. It took some time but eventually Severus returned his black iris to gaze into the gorgeous knowing gray eyes. "Close your eyes." Lucius whispered in a tone most tender. He obeyed and braced himself.
The warmth of Lucius Malfoy's lips translated beautifully to Severus. The gentle pressing contact into a subtle moist embrace forced his body to relax entirely as he surrendered himself. Softly Lucius coaxed Severus into parting his lips and slid his tongue inside. He marveled at the taste and feel of the young Slytherin's mouth. It forced his mouth wider on Severus' and harder with his tongue. Moving in all directions, desperate to remember this feeling. Lucius stopped himself when he realized Severus had become rigid once more. He pulled away with a faint smile.
"Do you not like it?"
"I've never…I mean, no one has…"
"Ah." Lucius said quietly and brought Severus' face back to him. All the while trying very hard not to show his utter excitement and pleasure that he had been Severus' first kiss. "Well you just relax your whole mouth at first, then when touch, pucker your lips just slightly, so we don't bump our teeth."
"Okay." He answered in an unsteady breath. "What about the…hn the tongue stuff."
"Think of it as you're trying to massage my tongue with yours."
"That's so gross."
"Hm, you didn't seem to think so." Without warning Lucius clamped down on Severus' lower lip and suckled with a light tug before entering his mouth once more. This time his young friend was more receptive to their embrace. Without prompting he opened his mouth wider and after the first brush of his tongue on Lucius' he eagerly reciprocated. Without realizing it, Lucius pushed himself against Severus who even though was much younger, still nearly his height. Severus' timid hands found his partner's shoulders and finally wound around his neck. While Lucius' curious fingers went to Severus' hips. Their pelvises locked together and could not ignore the mutual tightening in their trousers.
Their embrace was intoxicating. Lucius lost himself in the motion and proceeded as he had so many times before with girls. But this felt different, more familiar despite it being the first time with a boy. He smiled in their kiss when Severus' let out a sensual whimper. Lucius pulled away and stepped back to assess his dark haired friend. Severus shivered, mourning the loss of their connection. Lucius held his hand out and took Severus across the room and directed him to lay on his bed. Severus looked at him with timid trepidation and shifted uncomfortably.
"I swear on my honor as a Slytherin I won't molest you in the night." Lucius held his hand to his chest and gave a sly grin. "Its late, and I would like you in the company of my bed." He added with a genuine warmth.
Severus removed his shirt and shoes and climbed on top of the heavy comforter. He laid on his side and coiled with his knees into his chest. With the lights out, Lucius draped his arm around the slender shoulder next to him. Slowly moving into his friend he pressed his chest into Severus' back and with a smug smirk over his lips, Lucius drifted off to sleep.
What did ya think? I really love these two together in the capacity of friendship and slash so I want to have a lot of fun with it. Also I'm not totally familiar with writing male slash so this will be a bit of a challenge for me. : D Reviews are always a super fun way to show the writer you enjoyed their story and/or want them desperately to continue! Also its my birthday tomorrow so consider it a gift!