Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places mentioned in this story.

Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews! Someone pointed out to me that Lucius is five years older than the Marauders and that the Lestrange brothers went to school with everyone favourite Dark Lord (unless there's a Grindelwald fan amongst us), but as you can clearly see I put them all in the same year and they will just have to deal with it as will you- and really who wants them to be so old?


This chapter was betaed by Silver Lady- thank you!

3. MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Lucius woke the next morning to soft cursing and, after he had made sure that his hair didn't stick out in odd places, he pushed his curtains aside, swung his long legs over the edge and found the source of the noise.

"What are you doing?" he asked after he had spotted Harry sitting on his own bed, his wand in hand and books strewn around him.

"Oh sorry, did I wake you?" Harry apologised, barely restraining himself from throwing his Charms book against the wall.

"No, you didn't," Lucius stated, walking over to the younger boy, "so what seems to be the problem with those books?"

"I can't read them," Harry growled in annoyance, hitting his Transfiguration book a bit violently with the wand in his hand, "and the spell to change the text into Braille isn't working, either."

"Why not?" the blond asked, interested.

"The paper has to be charmed before you print on it so that it works," Harry sighed, "some publishers do that, but not a lot, and I hate this stupid wand."

"You hate your wand?", Lucius raised an eyebrow inquiringly, but of course it was lost on the other boy.

"It's not my wand," the blind boy complained, "it's from one of my spies, or at least I think so...I have no idea who it is from. Stupid magic. Stupid books. Stupid wand!"

"You seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today," Lucius remarked, mildly annoyed that his superior smirk wasn't noticed in the least.

"Stupid Malfoys," Harry snapped at him, "you always think your remarks are so witty, don't you? Well, they are not!"

Harry brushed past him, already fully dressed, and strode out of the dormitory, leaving Lucius dumb-founded and Severus, who had followed the last part of their conversation, highly amused.

"Seems like the little lion has claws after all," he said rather cheerfully. "I doubt you'll be able to seduce him that easily, Lucius."

"Who says that I want to seduce him?" Lucius arched an eyebrow.

"I say so," Severus shrugged, "and unlike him, I'm not blind."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" the blond asked, mildly annoyed.

"It means that you stare at him all the time and, if I remember correctly, I did walk in on you in the bathroom and what name was it that you shouted? I was really trying to suppress this memory too, but it looks like it will haunt me for life," the black-haired boy grimaced in distaste. "Really, Lucius, I thought you were above such things."

Lucius would have blushed, but thankfully Malfoys never blush and so he was at least spared that embarrassment. "Well, so what! What is it to you?", he retorted.

"Nothing," Severus replied as he turned his back on him, reaching for his school uniform, "I just said that it won't be as easy as you imagined it to be. You would probably have a better chance of Narcissa leaving you alone than to get that boy into your bed."

"I bet I can get him to spread his legs for me within a month," Lucius stated with conviction, "do you want to take the bet?"

"What do you wager?" the future Potions Master demanded.

"If I win you'll do my Potions homework for the rest of the year and if you win you can have that book I have that you were swooning over during the holidays," Lucius offered and Severus accepted at once.

For one, he didn't doubt that his best-friend would lose and, even if he didn't, that book was worth it to risk having to do Lucius' homework. It happened to be one of the few books by Salazar Slytherin that wasn't written in Parseltongue and it was common knowledge that Slytherin's potions skills sometimes still surpassed what people now were able to do.

They shook hands on it and then got ready for another day, which took Lucius more than double the time Severus had needed, even though the hook-nosed young man had washed his hair today despite his better judgement.

When the two boys finally left the dormitories and went to the common room Harry was nowhere to be seen, however Lucius would have considered himself lucky if this had only applied to Narcissa as well, who was eyeing herself in the window and then latched herself onto him as soon as she spotted him.

"Oh, Lucipoo," she said as she batted her blackened eye lashes and pressed even closer, making him wonder if her breasts were insubstantial, "I thought you might want to accompany me to the Great Hall. You can carry my books...", she added in a manner that she thought sounded suggestive.

"By now even you should be able to find the way on your own," Lucius replied as he none-too-gently pushed her away from him and left the common room with Severus. "She gets more annoying with every second."

"It's in the blood," Severus stated, thinking of another Black who got on his nerves on a regular basis.

"Oh, but didn't you say yesterday that you don't care about blood?" Lucius teased and the black-haired boy scowled in reply.

"I don't, but that still doesn't make the presence of any Black bearable and, since you obviously have the hots for a certain half-blood, I don't think you are one to talk..."

"Don't be stupid, Severus," Lucius admonished him, "even mudbloods are good for a fuck every now and then, but you wouldn't know something like that, would you?"

"Ha, bloody, ha. That joke is getting really old, Lucius," Severus snarled, pushing several first-years out of his way, who looked at the two tall boys in fright before hurriedly scattering.

They had just entered the Great Hall in time to see Harry hug one very surprised and shocked Minerva McGonagall. "Minnie!" Harry laughed happily, kissing the Transfiguration teacher on the cheek, "Good morning, Auntie."

"Harry, I do believe you have sufficiently shocked our dear Minerva," Dumbledore chuckled. "Why don't you have some breakfast now though?"

"I have to go to Diagon Alley, Albus," Harry said as he hopped up to sit on the teacher's table, facing the Headmaster, barely missing a basket of fresh rolls. "I need my wand, other books and new clothes preferably- these are rather scratchy."

The Headmaster chuckled and twinkled merrily at him. "Of course, Harry, I already spoke with your grandparents and they opened up an extra vault for you. I think our Head Boy and Head Girl should accompany you..."

"Can't I go with my Dad?" Harry pleaded, "I don't want to go with someone I don't even know."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll quite like to spend some time with our Head Girl, Lily Evans. Would you know her by any chance?" the wizened wizard asked, revelling in the brilliant smile he received.

"I've heard of her," Harry murmured pensively, "I guess I could let her accompany me. Who's the Head Boy?"

"One of your housemates", Dumbledore answered, adding another spoonful of sugar to his lemon tea, "Lucius Malfoy."

"Lucius?" Harry asked incredulously. "Does it have to be Lucius? Can't I go with my Dad instead? It's his money after all..."

"It would be a bit unfair to leave the Head Boy out," Dumbledore chuckled, "no one would want the job if it weren't for those small privileges every once in a while..."

"What are you planning now, old man?" the black-haired boy asked annoyed while McGonagall let out a shocked gasp at so much disrespect.

"Nothing, my dear boy, however, I do wish you a pleasant day," the old man smiled happily and Harry, grumbling and muttering about senile old fools whose lives were so boring that they had to interfere in everyone else's, went over to the Gryffindor table, following his father's enthusiastic greetings.

Of course, he was happy to be spending a day with his future mother, namely because he wouldn't be able to do so very often without James getting suspicious or, worse yet, jealous, but he was not at all eager to be accompanied by Lucius bloody Malfoy.

He had never really found out how things stood between the two Malfoy men and, though he trusted the older blond on some obscure level, it didn't change the fact that Lucius made him nervous. There was something dangerous about the man and he wasn't sure yet if it was also dangerous for him. He had always thought that Draco was just like his father, but even though he knew almost nothing about the Malfoy patriarch, he knew that this assumption was untrue. Draco, deep down inside, had a bit of Gryffindor in him and, though he usually showed everyone his aloofness, Harry had experienced the warm, caring person that hid behind those masks. Sometimes Harry was surprised about how motherhenish Draco could be. Sure, he masked it well by passing it off as possessiveness, but somehow he knew that the blond wasn't at all egoistic- at least not when it concerned Harry.

Lucius, however, was a whole different matter. He had always known him to be a ruthless, snobbish and silky business man and, though he could respect him for his cunning and his magical power, it also scared him. Then there was the matter that he didn't know whether Lucius had taken part in Voldemort's brilliant scheme of breaking him- or would in the future. It did seem likely, but on the other hand you could never be too sure with a Malfoy. In any case it didn't make much of a difference. He was over it, he assured himself. Yes, over it.

Besides that, he had gone shopping with Draco once and if Lucius was anything like his son he would consider himself lucky if he was still able to stand after this day was over.

"So, how was your night in the snake pit?" Sirius greeted him, "you look rather uninjured."

"Don't be stupid, Sirius," Harry scowled a little, "as long as I don't attack them directly then I'm absolutely safe. Besides, I have Severus..."

"That reminds me..." James muttered as he got up and, straightening his posture, he walked over to the Slytherin table, all of whom welcomed him with hostile glares.

"What is he doing?" Harry asked in confusion. "Where is he going? Damnit all, what is going on?!"

"He's talking with Snape," Remus informed him, not much less confused than Harry was.

"Shit," Harry cursed and got up as well, hastily following his father, who was indeed conversing with the future Potion's Master.

"...I am sorry, Snape," James growled dangerously, "and I don't care if you accept my apology or not."

"Dad," Harry asked unsurely, "what are you doing?"

"I'm apologising to Snape."

"Why?"

"Because you said you hated me for what I did to him and I will not have my own son hating me because of something as trivial as that..." James replied and caught his son in his arms.

"You are the best dad ever," Harry murmured. "Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me..."

"Well, then at least embarrassing myself did have success on some level," James chuckled merrily. "Let's get something to eat, alright?"

"No, wait," Harry said and grabbed his arm before he could leave the Slytherin table for good. "Sev, isn't there something you would like to say?"

"You get on my nerves, Potter," the black-haired young man grumbled, "other than that? No..."

"I'm waiting, Sev, and I don't like to wait. I know a lot of things about you and I have no qualms about using them against you, if you continue acting like an insolent child..." Harry stated evenly and Severus gulped visibly.

"For example?"

"I know who you have a crush on," Harry answered with a sweet smile, "maybe I should tell them...what do you think?"

Severus went even paler if that was at all possible. "Fine, Potter, I accept your apology..." Harry nudged him expectantly, "and I apologise as well, now go!"

"Oh, it would have been so much fun too," Harry pouted a little, "don't be angry, Sev. I'll help you with your crush..."

"I. Don't. Need. Help," Severus pressed out between clenched teeth, "everything would have been just fine without you."

"If you can call sulking in your room fine..." Harry muttered, "you should really rethink your priorities, Sev, not everyone is against you..."

"You don't count, Potter!" Severus sneered.

"You can stop this," Harry hissed at him dangerously, "I've had about enough, Snape. You won't scare me away, but if you insist on insulting me then I have no intention to hang around you any longer. Find someone else!"

"I never asked you to 'hang around' me," Severus argued, but Harry had already turned away.

"You are an idiot, Severus," Lucius informed him coldly since both Potters had returned to the Gryffindor table.

"Oh, no, really? And why is that so?" Severus mocked.

"Because that boy obviously thinks so highly of you that he made Potter apologise to you," Lucius explained, following the slight black-haired wizard with his eyes. "How many people do you know that would be willing to do that for you?"

"What is it to you?"

"Nothing really," Lucius replied as he turned back to his breakfast, proceeding to ignore his fellow Slytherin.

Severus' scowl darkened and he glared at the little nuisance for good measure, but couldn't completely suppress the thought that maybe he had just made a big mistake. Sure, this Harry was annoying, but he had made Potter apologise and he had seemed genuine when he had said that they were friends in the future. He even said he loves you, his inner voice added, not too helpfully. He focused on his toast before his mind could dwell more on that aspect.

"Is Severus still glaring at me?" Harry asked in irritation, stabbing at his scrambled eggs.

"Nope, he's trying to murder his toast, I guess," James added after a quick glance over his shoulder, "why do you care anyway?"

"Because he is my friend, well, I'm his friend at least," Harry sighed sadly. "I want him to like me."

"He's a stupid git," Sirius voiced his opinion, "and you have us, what do you need him for?"

"Please, Sirius, don't talk like that," Harry pleaded. "Sev is great and having you too, but it is just not the same. I know that I have you and I'm very grateful for it, but Sev was the only one who never lied to me and didn't force me to be something I'm not. I need him as well as I need you, but not in the same way."

"I still can't see what you see in him," Sirius shrugged before he became aware of what he had just said. "Oh, sorry, Harry, I didn't mean it like that."

"It's alright," Harry assured him, hugging the taller boy, "you can say something like that, I don't mind."

"So, why were you talking with Dumbledore earlier and why the hell did you hug McGonagall?" James asked incredulously and Harry chuckled.

"She's my Head of House in the future and she rather likes me, furthermore, I've always wanted to do that."

"McGonagall likes you?" Sirius asked doubtfully, "Whatever is the world coming to?"

"Well, Gryffindor did win the House Cup quite often," Harry laughed, "she's more obsessed with Quidditch than anyone else I know. She was so furious when I was banned from playing in my fifth year..."

"You played Quidditch," James said and perked up hopefully, while Remus rolled his eyes. "What position were you in? When did you join?"

"Yes, I did play Quidditch," Harry laughed, "I became Seeker in my first year..." everyone gaped at this and Harry chuckled happily. "Minnie busted me when I flew without permission- I thought I would be expelled, but instead she brought me to our house Quidditch captain."

"That's my son," James declared, puffing out his chest proudly and putting an arm around his shoulders.

"Or he is an alien," Sirius suggested happily, "Or maybe his mother did drugs while she was pregnant and Harry now has some weird super powers. Or maybe there was a meteor shower in his time and now everyone..." Remus quickly clamped a hand over Sirius' still moving mouth to stop him.

"He drank coffee," Remus explained simply.

"I figured as much," Harry smirked, munching on his apple. "So where is Lily Evans?"

James perked up as he heard the name of his long-time crush/ love of his life/ future wife/ mother of his son (but of course he didn't know about the last two titles yet). "What do you want with Evans?"

"Albus had the brilliant idea," Harry scowled, "that she should accompany me to Diagon Alley."

"Don't you like her?" Remus asked suspiciously.

"I don't know her and it's not her I'm annoyed about. Albus thought that Lucius should go with me as well," Harry groaned.

"Oh, good luck," James laughed, not an ounce of sympathy in his voice. "Hey, Evans!"

Harry winced and twisted away from him at the volume of his shout.

"I'm not in the mood, Potter," Lily stated, staying hidden behind her Transfigurations book. "Why don't we forgo all those false compliments and promises and just get to my answer? No, Potter, I won't go out with you, I won't even consider it, no, I didn't find your last prank even remotely funny and no, I'm not in the least impressed with your last Quidditch victory."

"Sorry, M... Miss Evans," Harry said as he jabbed his father in the side with his elbow before he could reply to her, "I apologise for my dad's lousy behaviour in the past, but right now I would really appreciate it if you would agree to accompany me to Diagon Alley and save me from suffering the effects of having to go shopping with a Malfoy, which is what he was going to ask you on my behalf. So, please?"

"We have classes, Potter," Lily started to pack up her books that lay strewn around her as she said that, "and that goes for you as well."

"Please, please, please, please, please, please, please," Harry went down to his knees, grabbing onto her hands, "before you say no you might want to consider that my record for begging is three hours and twenty-six minutes."

"I have no time, Potter," Lily interrupted, clearly annoyed.

"Yes, you do, Albus gave us the day off," Harry argued. "I need my wand and some new books. You don't want to be responsible for it if I have to miss all the important stuff we are learning just because I can't read the books, do you?"

The redhead's expression softened a little and she sighed in defeat. "I'll go with you if I can find someone to give me their notes..."

"Let me take care of that," Harry offered immediately with a brilliant smile. "Thank you so much. I'll see you at nine o'clock in front of the Headmaster's office, okay?"

"Fine, but if this is..."

"It's not," Harry interrupted her.

"You don't even know what I wanted to say," Lily argued.

"I have a good intuition," Harry shrugged, "and I can promise you that it's merely a shopping trip to Diagon Alley and nothing more."

The Head Girl grumbled something unintelligible under her breath before storming out of the Great Hall, causing James to sigh dreamily and Sirius to hit him over the head.

"So how do you suppose you're going to get those notes for Lily?" Sirius asked. "More importantly, can you get me those notes too?"

"I was rather hoping my dearest Uncle Remus would do me that favour," Harry smiled charmingly at the werewolf. "Please, Uncle Remus, please? I can get you chocolate."

"I can get chocolate from the kitchens," Remus stated.

"But not that chocolate," Harry smirked a little as he leaned closer to the sandy-haired youth. "I can get you Sirius' favourite chocolate..."

"I would have given you the notes without the bribery," Remus admitted and Harry laughed happily as he got up.

"I know, but this way I have a valid reason to buy some chocolate for myself as well. Until later then."

The small ex-Gryffindor hugged all of them before he sauntered over to the Slytherin table and a fat mousy-haired boy took his place besides Sirius, gulping down everything he could get his hands on. The other Marauders tried to act natural, but Remus especially had a hard time accepting Wormtail back, noting again the cowardly smell that hung around the rat. This fat little human had hurt his cub and the wolf in him growled as Peter reached for the butter that stood in front of him and came dangerously close to Moony.

"What's wrong with you, Moons?" Peter asked he hastened to pull his hand back as Remus bared his teeth. "Is it because of that little shit? You don't believe him over me, do you?"

"You are talking about my son!" James hissed at the same time as Remus snarled warningly. "Apologise immediately!"

"James," Peter whimpered, rivulets of sweat flowing down his face and neck, "I'm your friend..."

"Friends don't insult each other," Sirius had stood up as well, inching between the werewolf and the smallest Marauder, "and I for one am very inclined to believe Harry's word over yours."

Remus gave another growl and tried to brush past Peter and Sirius, but a wand against his temple stopped him. "Obliviate!", Harry whispered, catching Remus before he hit the floor and then pointed his wand at the other Marauders repeating the spell before they could react.

"Harry!" Dumbledore had drawn his wand as well and now had it pointed at the boy who carefully helped Remus, who looked rather confused, back into his seat. "Why did you do that to them?"

"I hate Peter, but no one deserves to be betrayed by his friends and I will not be the reason my dad turns on him," Harry said simply, pocketing his wand. "I fixed a mistake I myself made."

"You can't go around hexing the students, Harry," Dumbledore reprimanded him gently, "I thought we had agreed on that?"

"No, Albus, we obviously didn't even agree to disagree," Harry smiled charmingly at him, "No one was hurt- could you guarantee the same if I hadn't intervened?"

"I guess not," Dumbledore sighed. "Why don't you continue breakfast? The apple pies are really delicious...Also, Harry, we will discuss this later."

"I'm looking forward to it," Harry chuckled happily, bowing lightly, and waved to the four Marauders, who still seemed mildly dazed and rather confused by all the attention they were getting, before he once more walked to the Slytherin table, this time actually making it there and plopping down in the free seat beside Lucius that the blond had previously used to store his school things on, which had now landed on the floor "Lucius?"

Lucius debated how to answer the enticing wizard next to him. "Is there something you wanted, Harry?"

"Will you come to Diagon Alley with me, please?" Harry would have looked at him with his best puppy-dog eyes now, but alas, that was no longer an option. "Please, Lucius? Albus won't let me go alone and he decided that if you don't go with me then I'm not allowed to go at all. Please?"

Lucius had a new task now: Seducing Harry Potter (for the sole purpose of allowing him to get rid of all thoughts that contained the black-haired beauty). Now, most everyone would probably start with getting to know the object of their desire, find some common ground, do something nice for them, etc, etc, but Lucius Malfoy was not like everyone else and the thought that he would have to make an effort to get someone into his bed was as laughable as Dumbledore's obsession with lemon drops. No, no, he wouldn't woo the boy. Really, there was no need for it anyway. He didn't love him and Harry wanted him already, he was sure.

Harry drew back, shocked, as he felt Lucius' leering gaze fix on him. This was not happening! Damn the senile fool, he had known that there was a reason not to trust the blonde! Hermione always said that he was too naïve for his own good. Draco had once said that he wouldn't even notice someone was hitting on him if he held a written and signed confession of it in his hands, but he was not stupid and his blindness had made him more sensitive. Maybe he was overreacting, but it was better to be safe than sorry and he knew better than to trust any Malfoy, especially this Malfoy. It had been a long time until he had trusted Draco to any extent and, in the end, he knew that he only did so because he had to trust someone and Draco was willing to put up with him.

"I have to go," Harry muttered and jumped up from his chair, fishing for his bag as fast as he could.

"I thought you wanted to go to Diagon Alley with me?" Lucius said as he quickly caught up with the fleeing boy, his long legs a definite advantage.

"Just forget it," Harry replied and tried to disappear down the Charms corridor, but the blonde just kept walking beside him.

"What is wrong with you?" Lucius had finally had enough and grabbed Harry's arm, pinning the smaller boy against the wall, ignoring for now the wand that was pointing straight at his heart.

"Nothing is wrong with me," Harry hissed, "now release me at once."

"Not before you tell me why you suddenly changed your mind," Lucius replied and only pushed closer, pressing his body against Harry's small struggling form. "If you hex me the whole house of Slytherin will turn against you," he said and nodded towards his housemates, who had followed them and formed a semi-circle around the two, blocking all escape routes.

"Get away from me," Harry ground out, futily pushing against the taller boy's chest, "please, get away from me," he whispered, his tone turning pleading.

Lucius was startled for a moment at how desperate Harry sounded all of the sudden, but resolved that Harry had wanted to shock him so that he would let him go and, therefore, only held on tighter. "Tell me why you panicked."

"No...and I didn't panic."

"Then I won't let you go," the blonde stated simply. "I can assure you that I'm not nearly as uncomfortable as you seem to be."

"Send them away then," Harry demanded after a while and, with an imperative hand gesture from Lucius, the Slytherins all scattered, leaving them alone.

"Now, tell me."

"The way you looked at me," Harry whispered, "that's why I ran away. I hate it that you looked at me like that. It made me feel dirty... Are you happy now? Let me go now!" he once again pushed against Lucius' chest, managing to dislodge his hold on him and slip away from him.

"Wait!" Lucius grabbed onto Harry's arm once more and before he had time to react, Harry had slapped him across the face.

"You got your answer, Malfoy. Now leave me alone and never look at me like that again or you will get first-hand experience what it's like to be blind."

Lucius was still massaging his cheek long after Harry had disappeared down another corridor; only Severus' chuckle brought him back to reality. "I'm starting to like that boy!" Severus grinned.

"Shut up, Snape," Lucius hissed testily, "and if you don't want to help me you can crawl right back down into the hole you crawled out of."

"Help you?" Severus was still grinning, "I thought you had it under control?"

"I would have had everything under control if that brat was sane," Lucius scowled, putting his book bag over his shoulder. "He obviously is paranoid."

"Or very perceptive," Severus uttered boredly, "you were staring at him quite hungrily, after all..."

"Firstly, I was not and, secondly, even if I had been staring at him, he wasn't supposed to know something like that if he can't see," the blond scowled. "Lastly, he should feel honoured."

Severus snorted. "You are so full of yourself. What are you planning to do now? Time is ticking by..."

"I will get him, Severus," Lucius smirked confidently, "but maybe I need a different approach for this one..."

Severus just rolled his eyes at his friend's "naïvety", though that was a word no one could use in connection with a Malfoy without using quotation marks around it, and then walked away to his first class, leaving Lucius to his thoughts.

No, the sole heir to the Malfoy fortune and name had no intention to go to class. Harry had invited him to a trip to Diagon Alley, hadn't he? Why should he miss out on all of the fun? Exactly. There was no reason good enough and so, after a bit of contemplating, he went to the Headmaster's office, knocking rather politely after he had spat out the password, "Whizzing Whizbies", at the gargoyle.


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