Disclaimer: Clearly I don't own any of these characters. This is just a poor representation of what goes on in my mind in the middle of the night. Enjoy.

Chapter 1: Arrangement

December 29th, 1978

Severus shivered against the cold and folded his arms across his chest to shield himself from the bitter December air. It was nightfall, with just enough light pooling around a streetlamp that he was able to make out the gravestone marker that read:

Eileen Snape

Born 23-2-1933

Died 2-5-1978

The gravestone held no words of comfort; no well wishes or thoughts of the afterlife. Cold words for a cold woman. Severus brushed a bit of fallen snow off his cloak and wondered how long he had been standing there. His boots crunched softly beneath him as he moved his feet to stay away the stinging chill. He felt the warmth of his life slipping farther and farther away from him, like a candle that's been burned down to the wick. He was never particularly close with his mother, but once she had died he knew there was nothing else for him. Even with all he had accomplished in his years at Hogwarts, none of it came to mind in the drifting, lazy hours of the night; he could only think of what could possibly follow a lifetime of misery.

The sound of Lucius Apparating was muffled by the thick blanket of snow that covered the neglected cemetery, and it only barely registered to Severus that he had company until a warm cloak found its way across his shoulders.

He immediately threw it to the ground, but refused to look Lucius in the eyes. "I don't need your pity," he said bitterly. "Or your charity. Leave me alone."

Only a deep sigh followed, along with Lucius scooping up the cloak and once again throwing it across Severus' gangly shoulders.

"I don't want it!" He bellowed. This time he whirled around to face Lucius, who only pinned the cloak tighter against him as he struggled away from the comfort.

"I don't care what you want. It's what you need," Lucius said with an air of superiority that only Lucius himself could convey. "If you keep standing out here in the night air you'll catch your death."

Severus jerked his head away from him quickly, but kept the cloak on. He had a certain knowing for Lucius and knew that he would get his way eventually. "What do you want with me anyway."

"Your services," Lucius said casually. "You are, as you know, a dead hand at potions. I am rather not. I am proposing that, for a wage, you come and work for me."

"You mean for them," Severus's voice was barely a whisper. The wind had picked up a bit and pinched at the exposed parts of his face. The cold had now settled down deep into his bones and was beginning to feel the effects of having stayed out so late. His stomach ached, reminding him another day had passed without him taking care of himself, and his head was throbbing with thoughts stewing about in his head. Lucius had been a friend to him during their days in Hogwarts and always treated him with a sliver of dignity, despite Severus's impoverish back ground and blood status. Perhaps his offer would be a reprieve, even if it was serving a less than honorable cause.

Lucius chucked. "I thought you might protest. Might I offer a better wager?" Severus finally lifted his head to meet Lucius's gaze and eyed him cautiously. The older boy was certainly an impressive sight. Silver hair swept carelessly back away from his pale chiseled face, no doubt from a life of privilege. He had on only the finest attire, dragon skin gloves, a velvet lined cloak, and a crisp set of black robes that commanded presence. Severus had never paid very much attention to appearances, but Lucius painted a picture of power, and Severus couldn't help but be drawn to it. "You will live with me. Meals will be provided, all of your ingredients will be provided and you'll have full reign to..." he paused, "experiment."

Severus had barely opened his mouth for his counter, and Lucius put a long arm across his back and pulled him away from his mother's grave. "I know you have your suspicions, but you can consider my work with unsavory characters as more on-the-job hazards than obligation."

They walked across the freshly piled snow. Lucius holding his head up tall and proud while Severus moved with his usual twitchy, spider like movements with his head bent down. Lucius still had his hand on Severus's back, which was making him uncomfortable. He shifted away slightly but Lucius guided him back elegantly, but not without force, letting Severus know who exactly commanded their time together.

By now they were in the street under the gentle light. Severus glanced back at the cemetery which now seemed somehow darker and colder than it had when he first approached it. He then turned to look at Lucius whose hair seemed to glow under the light like a halo. Severus heaved a deep sigh. He knew there was no escaping it, it was bound to happen one way or another. Lucius was here as a friendly gesture, and he knew enough about the unsavory characters to know that their offer would not come so friendly. He didn't want to speak. He knew the work he would be doing for Lucious wouldn't be favorable, but he knew he had little choice. All he had to do was nod and Lucius smiled broadly and placed a hand on Severus's shoulder to Apparate them away