"Sit with me," she offered but he declined and took his usual seat at the empty end of the table.

Andy sat with her sisters and quieted their questions with a glare.

Lucius and his friends were discussing the problem quietly at their end of the table.

"We have to teach him a lesson," Roddy said, "I mean, Merlin, he's your younger brother. You'd never see me let Rabastan get away with something like that."

"You also have Rab under your thumb, he's like a servant to you."

Lucius piped up, "Paris and Stanton would never dream of doing something like this."

Pyrus, who was without siblings, nodded, "Aye, yours seems to be the disobedient of the younger brothers."

Icarus crossed his arms, "I'll owl father and ask him to help me."

The boys nodded and leaned back from their secret council to eat.

…………………………

Two AM and Aik was laying across a desk, looking very cute, as usual while Severus was brewing and worrying about whether or not this one would turn out right. It was significantly more complex than anything he had attempted before.

Lucius stood at the door, tired but curious and that drew him from bed.

He pushed open the door and stepped in.

"I wondered when you would come in," Severus said without looking up.

Lucius ignored that, "Aren't you worried about what Icarus will do to you?"

"No."

"I would be, he's still furious about it."

"I'm not though, and that's the point," Severus said, a firm look on his features, as if he refused to give into worry.

"Listen," Lucius drew closer to the place where Severus sat. Lucius came very close, right next to him, actually. "You're brother, he's more than furious, he's planning to write to your father, ask that you be disowned."

Severus' head snapped around to look at the older boy, "What?"

"He hasn't started the letter yet but he will soon, he's going to ask for you to be disowned, left with nothing and send a formal request for you to be ejected from Hogwarts."

Severus wanted to argue, to say it was impossible but he knew that anything was possible for Icarus Snape and his father. The petite young man shook his head and turned back to his Charms report, "He's over reacting."

"We know, we had no idea he would take it that far," Lucius sighed and seated himself in the next chair and crossed one legs over the other, "I can't imagine your father will send the Expulsion Request but if he's mad enough he may."

Severus knew that it could all be a lost cause if Roshe got mad enough.

"Why are you telling me?"

Lucius drew back a little, "I thought you should know."

"So I can suffer, wondering if it's true, until the day I find my trunk packed for me and the express waiting? Thank-you, you're kind."

"I didn't mean it like that," he sounded sad, "I'm trying to help."

"Of course," Severus said with more acid than he had originally intended.

Lucius sighed, just a little, "I feel bad about this, sort of like we encouraged him to go that far…I am sorry."

Severus nodded, "I'm certain," he said and then paused, "Thank-you, for the warning I mean and…for the apology," he looked up and was caught in silver eyes.

"Anything I can do," he said and smiled just a little. In the silence both felt slightly awkward and looked away from one another. "Are you still working on that medical supplies essay?"

"Yes," he nodded and pulled it from a stack of parchment, "But it has taken second chair to general homework."

Lucius read the first section through and then again and began to catch the biting criticism laced into the lines. "I like it," he admitted and set it aside, "Did they ask you to write it or is it unsolicited?"

"Both, in a way," he said, "They want a new system but did not ask me specifically to come up with one."

"So you're offering your expertise," Lucius smirked, "Sounds like something you would do."

"I don't think you know me well enough to say what I would and would not do."

Lucius shrugged, "Explain the concept to me."

"Which one?"

"This Charms thing you're working on."

Severus stood to tend to the potion and began to describe the essay and the magic it was on about.

…………………………

Every night that week Lucius found himself sitting in that room with that boy and talking. Severus was significantly more intelligent than Lucius had known. They moved from school related talk to discussing their lives and thoughts. Lucius understood his thoughts and Severus welcomed the invasion of privacy.

"Why do you hide your thoughts like this?"

"Like what?"

"In the dark night in the deep dungeons," Lucius said and read a new version of a report.

"It is better that they come out here than out there," he motioned towards the hall, "Where Potter and the Marauders and my brother will tear them up."

"How can they be so ignorant as to all this," he looked at the piles of notes and books.

"People ignore what they do not wish to deal with or accept," he answered. Severus examined a vile of silver powder before opening it.

"What's so wrong with you that people hate you?"

Severus thought about it for a moment.

"My brother hates me because he cannot hate anyone else. You know how it is being the oldest; making enemies in the pureblood world is akin to starting a civil war. He has a natural aggression and if he cannot hate other kids he'll hate me. That's how it was until we came here and you would think that now he could focus his hate on the lions or the badgers but they could still be 'useful allies' and so it's all on me. Others hate me because they see that Icarus does and the logic is that if my own brother cannot like me I must be filthy and wretched and a complete bastard."

Lucius shook his head, "I agree that Icarus is…aggressive at the least and psychotically violent by most standards but do you really think that this is all his doing and you are simply a victim?"

Severus smirked, "I admit that I haven't done anything to curb the dislike. I also admit that I may contribute to it. I do not like people much, they annoy me and distract. Hogwarts is not the 'happiest time of my life' it is a necessary event and when I'm done here I can live my life and not worry about it anymore."

"You hate people?"

"I'm introverted by nature, I don't like crowds or people or making friends."

"How did you become friends with Andromeda then?"

Severus shrugged.

"She…initiated that the same way you initiated this," he motioned between them, "And she hasn't given up on me…yet."

Lucius laughed, "She's a stubborn girl."

He nodded, "For all the things she cannot do, she can sure as all hell fight and make friends."

"Two opposing talents I would say."

"Quite."

Lucius opened one of the books and read a few lines before he looked up.

"I still don't know why you hang around here," Severus said.

"Habit," Lucius said and smirked.

…………………………

Darkness crept over the grounds.

Severus sat on his bed, Aik in his lap and scratching himself. Severus turned the pages of his book and wondered silently where everyone was. He looked at the clock then back to his book and considered if there was anything significant about the time. The door to his rooms opened and Lucius stepped in. "Oh, hello Severus, have you seen Paris?"

"Not since classes ended."

"Damn," Lucius looked around, "Which one is his?"

Severus pointed, "Why?"

Lucius walked to it and began searching through the bedside table and trunk, "I think he stole my bracelet."

"You wear bracelets?"

Lucius stopped searching and stood up straight, "I'll have you know it's rather manly."

Severus smirked, "I bet."

Lucius gave him a matching smirk and continued his search. "Found it." He removed a silver chain from the drawer, "Here, Severus, can you help me put it on? I've never been able to attach it without help."

He walked to the other snake and held out his wrist. Severus set down his book and took the heavy chain in his hand, "It's gorgeous," he said and hooked it around the oldest son's wrist.

"Thanks, my uncle bought it for me last year," he lowered his sleeve, "I really like it."

"I like it too," Severus nodded and looked up into the blue gray eyes of Lucius.

Lucius smiled, "Why aren't you at dinner?"

Severus could have hit himself for being so utterly blonde. "I forgot," he admitted.

"I assumed as much. I was planning to get the bracelet and then head over but I'm not at all hungry just yet."

"Understandably."

Lucius sat down next to Severus, "Where'd you get the puppy?"

"I found him on the edge of the forest and took him in. His name is Aik," he said.

Lucius held out his hand to the pup and was licked in return. "He's cute."

"Thanks," Severus smiled.

Lucius, from where he sat with his shoulder touching Severus', could see the hints of dark green and blue that insisted on a place in his eyes. "You're nothing like your brother."

Severus nodded, "I would hope not."

"What do you suppose you'll do when you're older?"

"I'm not sure," Severus shrugged, "I love potionary and fixing problems…"

"You could work in the Ministry's Department for Crisis Solving."

"I'm not much of a Ministry person."

"Really?"

"I know. A pureblood that dislikes the Ministry? Odd." He chuckled.

Lucius liked his laugh.

"Lots of us disagree with them and their pro-muggle policies; it's all to cover their arses in case we are found out."

"I agree," Severus said and looked to the door before turning to Lucius, "Wh-" He stopped, the way Lucius smiled at him made his breath stop part way between his mouth and lungs. Those grey eyes shattered by pale blue and surrounded in the darkest lashes, the pale, thick lips that parted to allow in air and Lucius smiled just a little more. "You're an intriguing boy, Severus, I like that." He leaned in and rested his lips on Severus' and his eyes closed. Severus, confused but not offended, closed his eyes and answered the unsaid request for a response. He leaned into Lucius and Aik quickly left his lap as he sensed Severus leaning further towards Lucius. The older boy smiled into the kiss and when Severus made the final move into the blonde's lap he was pleased to feel the long fingered hands reach up to his face and hair.

Lucius responded by putting his hands on the dark boy's hips and pulling him closer.

Severus pulled back rather suddenly, "What-Merlin, what are we doing?"

"We were kissing, dear Severus," Lucius said and smirked, his voice became a whisper as he continued, "I quite enjoyed it and I like to think you did too."

"I did," he said quickly and then paused, "I mean, Merlin, how could I not but…but you're and I'm…it's so…not okay with so many people."

"Like who?"

"My father, my mother, my brother, your parents, your brothers, your friends, Slughorn, Dippett…Merlin, they would hate us…me really."

"Why would they hate you?" Lucius asked, "I like you."

Red brushed his cheeks, "You're a first born and the poster boy for all things amazing and pureblood and I'm…well, not that. I just-I mean…you really like me?"

"Loads."

"I do not mean to seem unappreciative but why?"

"You're smart," he kissed Severus's jaw, "You're fun," his cheek, "Sudden," his nose, "Stubborn," his forehead, "Intriguing," his other cheek, "And addictive." Lucius kissed his lips.

A half hour later Severus finally removed himself fully from the older boy's lap, "Dinner will end soon and you should go."

"I could," Lucius said, "Or we could lock the door and keep right on kissing."

Severus laughed, "We could be then how would you get out without raising questions?"

"You think too much," Lucius laughed, "We would have figured something out when it became necessary."

"But now we don't have to," Severus smiled and lay across his bed, a satisfied smile on his lips. Lucius quickly crawled on top of him.

"Really, Sev, live a little."

The black haired snake could not help but blush. He had never had a nick name before. This one, "Sev" was so simple and short and pretty. They smiled at each other and Lucius kissed the smaller boy's neck and along his jaw. Severus was already lightly spotted in hickeys. Both his and Lucius' lips were dark red and Severus just knew his hair was a mess.

"Lucius," he sighed and shuddered as the blonde lay butterfly kisses on his neck, "We really-I mean, dinner is about to…" his words failed him when Lucius's hand ran down his stomach.

"Forget about all of them," the blonde whispered, "Don't think, just do what you want."

Severus immediately responded by wrapping his arms around the older boy's shoulders and pulling him into a crushing and lasting kiss.

Ten minutes later Lucius looked up at the clock, "I do have to go," he admitted but he could not move because Severus' dark, thin lips were teasing his neck and the long fingered hands were ghosting over the skin of his lower back. Lucius groaned when Severus bit his pulse and left a perfect mark.

"What were you saying, dear Luke?"

The blonde chuckled, "I really ought to go."

"I understand," Severus lifted his head, kissed Lucius again and let go of him.

"Will you be working tonight?"

"I'll be working," Severus said and emphasized the last word, "And I won't have time for this."

Lucius smirked, "Then we'll have to plan a time for this."

"We shall," he agreed and the blonde stood and tucked his shirt back in. "What are you doing while our school mates trundle to Hogsmeade on Saturday?"

"Andromeda wanted me to go shopping with her but I'm certain she would understand if I couldn't make it."

"No," the older boy said, "Go with her," and his smile grew, "I have a better idea."

"What's the idea?" Severus asked and sat up.

"You'll see."

Lucius winked at him and walked out of the room.

It was less than three minutes later that Paris and the other Fifth Years walked in.

"Oh that's where you were," Paris said, "We didn't see you at dinner and thought you'd been murdered or something."

"No such luck," Severus said, he was on his back on his bed, staring at the pages of a book without reading a word.

"You really just lay here all dinner?" One of the other boys asked.

"Yes," he said.

The boy, Atticus, looked at Paris and Paris shrugged. They thought Severus was incredibly strange.

Hazah for snogging

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