Author's note: I don't own Severus Snape or Lucius Malfoy, although I really wish I did. The writing and slashy goodness comes from me, but the characters? They belong to the wondrous, idol-worthy JK Rowling (all rights reserved). Contains violence, doom, angst and SLASH, as usual. R&R please!

Enigma

Malfoy senior was always something of an enigma. He wasn't around much, which was an incredible relief to Lucius in the holidays. His father's 'Ministry Business' took up an awful lot of his time, and he was usually left in the Manor, alone or suffering the tedium of his mother's inane conversation.

Severus had wanted to know it all. He came so close to the truth, but he never saw what really went on. Lucius would rationalise constantly about his father's behaviour. He told himself that he was jealous, or delusional. When he wasn't ignoring or resenting his son, they would have blazing arguments. Lucius, of course, would fight back, until the heat got too much, and his father won. Lucius had more scars than Severus ever saw.

Maybe it had been a bad idea to invite Severus to the Manor for the summer holidays, but Lucius hadn't thought that this would be any different than before. The last couple of holidays they had spent together had been wonderful - the Easter break in particular, spending time alone in London. But Lu's father was home for a great deal of the summer, and this was unexpected, and meant that the boys had to be very careful.

*****

He was standing in the shadows. The party was long since over, and he watched his son hug Severus Snape, and press a soft kiss to his cheek at the door of the guest room, before Lucius made his way to his own room. He followed him, silently, watching him as he slid gracefully into the room, shutting the door. Malfoy had been drinking, but he knew what he had seen. Visions of shame and disgrace clouded his sight, and he flung open the door.

Lucius didn't remember much about that night. He had managed to stay sober enough to not get carried away in front of his family and their friends, and at last he walked Severus back to his room, and left him, knowing there were too many people around to let anything more happen.

He remembered walking back to his room, and being halfway through changing for bed when his father entered. He remembered accusations, and pleading. And he remembered pain.

In the end, he convinced his father there was nothing going on - they were drunk; of course they were only friends - but he still ended up sleeping in a tight ball in a corner, covered in bruises he hadn't the energy to charm away.