"Now that it's really over, what do you intend to do?"

The young man in front of him looked down at his hands, twisting them in his lap as he considered his answer.

"I haven't really decided, but I'm very good at DADA and potions."

"Really?" Lucius asked as the house-elf added three sugars to his tea and stirred it counter-clockwise. "Don't you think the dark arts are fascinating?"

The young man's head dipped so far forward it looked as if he was trying to touch the table with his nose.

"Yes, very." He whispered eventually, nervous excitement carrying in every syllable.

Lucius took a sip of his tea, found it too cold and poured it over the unfortunate house-elf. He set the delicate china tea cup down on the table and stood up.

He was at the boy's side before he has had time to look up and he took the boy's hands in his and stroked them softly, watching the terrified blush spreading over the young man's face.

"Now you have left Hogwarts the world will be a different place, Severus. You will need some one to guide you."

"Guide, yes." Severus echoed delightedly, no longer a school boy bereft of his teacher and his lessons.

"I will teach you everything you ever need to know." Lucius said with a devilishly charming smile, and then he captured his new protégées mouth in a kiss and so begins the first lesson.