Warning reminder: This story contains slash implied and otherwise.

Chapter 4

Aquila ambled down Diagon Alley with his hands folded behind him. Regulus laughed and joked with Severus and Alphard, without a care in the world. He noted how Severus stiffened when Regulus touched him and a small smile stole across his face. Aquila kept quiet, things between he and Regulus were still stilted since their spat on the train. Not that he was overly concerned, the Christmastide gift Aquila had for Regulus would surely win him over and Regulus was too kind hearted to hold a grudge for too long.

"You're in a chipper mood." Alphard nudged Aquila and joined him behind the other two.

Slowly blinking once, Aquila lifted his emerald gaze to meet Alphard's grey amused eyes. "It is Christmastide, Alphard. It is not a time for anger. Unless, of course, it is geared towards an imbécile such as Oncle Pollux."

"Careful, Aquila. My father is a powerful man and can have spies everywhere." Aquila smirked; noting Alphard cautioned him and hadn't corrected him.

"Noted," Aquila watched Severus with a hunger he hadn't known he possessed; he couldn't help himself. The young man had confidence and strength, grace beyond his years and a hidden knowledge behind those deep obsidian pools. Severus appeared relaxed as the group traveled from store to store. He peered in windows and listened attentively as Regulus made purchases and carried on about this item or that. Severus knew Aquila was watching. He had to, because on several occasions he would look at him and smirk knowingly at the blatant desire in Aquila's eyes. "Alphard, I need to stop in Flourish and Blotts."

"Oh? More shopping, cousin? I thought you finished." Alphard stood beside Aquila, watching the reflection of the teen as he peered through the quidditch supply store window at Severus and Regulus.

"On second thought, they will not have what I want. I need a gift, Alphard. I need to go into Knockturn Alley to visit Borgin and Burkes." Aquila felt his heart lodge in his throat as he witnessed Regulus possessively grab Severus' wrist and whisper intimately with lips brushing against the shell of Severus' ear.

Aquila hadn't waited for a response from Alphard. He turned on his heel and stormed down the alley, his robes billowing in his wake. In his emotional jealous haze, he had missed Alphard call his name, but he didn't miss the hand that grabbed his arm firmly, forcing him to stop. "Breathe, cousin. It will do you no good to rush about like an emotional schoolgirl, and over the affections of Regulus' paramour no less." Alphard tsked, half mocking half horrified by Aquila's behavior.

Aquila closed his eyes tightly, hands in fists, his voice a strangled whisper when he spat, "Severus is not his paramour, he belongs to me."

"Does Regulus know?" The grip tightened on Aquila's arm when the teen didn't answer. Aquila shook his head, fingernails dug into his palms. Alphard's voice dropped dangerously low, "Regulus wants him. It is obvious. Do not pursue Severus. I will not warn you again. If Father hears word of this; he would have you pay for your insolence."

"The heart wants what it wants, how do I deny it?"

"That isn't your heart, Aquila. That is your hormones; your cock will get you in trouble. So do us both a favor and think with your other head before you lose both!"

Alphard released the hold on Aquila's arm. Aquila wasted no time distancing himself from the others and strode with confidence to Borgin and Burkes. The door creaked when opened and closed with a distinct click, wards rising immediately. Aquila briefly closed his eyes as the magic swept over him, caressing him like an intimate lover. His eyes snapped open and he sneered at the greasy, stooping man behind the counter staring warily back.

There were no other shoppers in the store at that moment, so Aquila didn't bother to be discreet. The wards would be enough to keep him safe while he shopped. "I am in need of a book." His words were concise, clipped and hinted at his French accent.

The elderly man gripped the counter with both hands and leaned forward with a crooked sneer. "We ain't Flourish and Blotts, boy. You want a book, go-"

"Do not insult my intelligence." Aquila didn't bother allowing the old man to finish his slight. "What I require is not something they would offer."

"Is that right?" He peered at Aquila now, only the teen lost interest in him as his eyes fell on a small bookshelf.

Aquila waved off the old man and perused the book titles until he found one that would suffice. He pulled it gingerly from the shelf and a grin spread slowly across his face. "Excellent."

"That's above your abilities-"

"Again with the insults? I can just as easily take my galleons elsewhere, you insipid codger." The sinister sneer cast towards Aquila was not missed by the young man. Grasping the book firmly in his hand, Aquila strode over, stood before the old man and set the old tome tenderly on the counter. He purposely made eye contact with the man and lashed out, diving relentlessly into his mind, refusing to back away at the dealings he witnessed. Aquila felt his stomach coil but refused to back down and just as quickly as he entered, he left the old man's mind leaving the elder reeling. "No, Mr. Borgin. You will take my coin gladly."

Mr. Borgin's grip on the counter was tight enough to make his knuckles white, "You insufferable child."

"Yes, yes, I will die an unsavory and untimely death, but not by your hands and not today. Now down to business, this book as we both know came to you surprisingly at a bargain." Without preamble, Aquila set down twice the price Mr. Borgin paid to acquire it and walked away, book in hand. At the door he stopped, pulled his wand at the sound of the growl behind him and faced the store owner, "Do not test me, Mr. Borgin. My patience is growing thin."

The door opened behind Aquila, but he held his ground. He knew who it was that had entered; Aquila had seen him through the glass pane of the door before turning his back to it. "Is there trouble, cousin?"

Recognition was evident in Mr. Borgin's eyes when he noted Alphard's entrance. A wrinkled hand combed back greasy hair, Mr. Borgin straightened as much as possible and spat his words with distaste at both Alphard and Aquila. "No. Take your book and go."

Aquila lowered his wand, smirked and gave Mr. Borgin a stilted nod. "Good day, sir."

Back in the relative safety of Knockturn Alley, Alphard glanced at Aquila. "I'm not sure I want to know what transpired in there."

"I purchased a book. He made twice what he paid even though it was a steal on both accounts." Aquila muttered, tapped the cover concealing its title and stowed his wand. "I am curious what Abraxas Malfoy would say if he knew his only son sold it for a mere twenty galleons in the first place."

"When did you meet Abraxas?"

"I met him this past summer, courtesy of your brother-in-law." Aquila saw Severus and Regulus moving towards them from the entrance to Knockturn Alley. Alphard's warning rang in his ears, the week of torture at the end of Pollux's wand blazed in his mind. The dark hungry glint in Severus' eyes spurred him, duty compelled him and Aquila did not falter. Aquila smirked at Alphard, "Lucius is a delectable specimen of a man. Shame he is married. Although his wife has yet to produce an heir, perhaps he is not as committed to his vows. One can only hope."

Aquila's stomach lurched at the sharp intake of breath by Severus, snort from Alphard and boisterous agreement from Regulus. Aquila refused to make eye contact with Severus and quickly looked away from Alphard's approving gaze, opting to face Regulus. "Are you finished shopping yet, cousin? It is so frigid here I have lost feeling in my extremities and that is a most unpleasant feeling."

"You're in England now, Potter." Severus quickly cast a warming charm on Aquila's cloak and Aquila's eyes closed with a slow shiver. The feel of Severus' magic washed over him like a caress. Aquila bit his lip to keep from moaning. "Honestly, how do the French stay warm in the winter months?"

"Stay indoors like decent, educated people would."

"You're a Black now," Alphard nudged him and nodded towards the Leaky Cauldron. "You no longer live in France; you're in England where you belong."

Aquila bit back a sneer and followed along, one hand in his pocket, the other cradling the book. As luck would have it, Aquila slowed his steps as a handsome couple exited Twilfitt and Tatting's. "/Such a lucky happenstance to run into two such beautiful beings. Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy./"

Narcissa Malfoy née Black - pale skinned beauty, with soft blue eyes and a lovely blonde coif - graced Aquila with an amused smile. "/Good afternoon, Mr. Potter. One does not expect such formalities from family./"

"/Ah, but it would be unbecoming to be so informal with the esteemed wife of the handsome Lucius./"

At this Narcissa laughed, her voice trilled delicately in the chilled early evening air. "/You're such a flatterer, but is it for my benefit or his?/"

"/Mine, naturally./"

"Naturellement!" Narcissa grabbed ahold of his shoulder, leaned forward and air kissed Aquila once on each cheek. Lucius simply raised an eyebrow at the intimate display of familiarity and affection, taking note how she still clung to Aquila's arm.

Aquila chuckled good-naturedly before casting his emerald gaze upon Lucius Malfoy - pointed handsome face, with pale blond hair practically devoid of color and stormy grey eyes. "Now, Lucius, surely you can afford to be gracious with family?"

"When in Rome, darling." Narcissa waved off any objection Lucius may care to express.

"First, we are not in Rome, we're in Diagon Alley, London. Second, we're British, tone it down a bit. Lastly, if I aptly read your cousin's desires, he'd rather take liberties with me than you." Lucius kept eye contact with Aquila during the whole exchange.

Neither admitting nor denying what Lucius had said, Aquila changed the subject as the others in his party were standing behind him having witnessed the whole disturbing display. "You know my cousins, Alphard and Regulus Black and dear Severus Snape."

Narcissa smiled beautifully, her charm and demeanor the epitome of class. "Uncle Alphard, Regulus, what are you two doing with this rapscallion?"

She playfully nudged Aquila who promptly feigned innocence, "Moi?"

"You're lovely as always, Cissy." Alphard grinned at Narcissa, taking her gloved hand from Aquila's arm and kissing the back of it with a soft brush of lips.

Aquila bit the inside of his lip to keep from shivering at the look from those smoldering grey hooded eyes. He could feel the touch, the prod, the gentle nudge in his mind. With a twitch of his lips, Aquila immediately envisioned the events of last night replacing Severus with Lucius. The two intertwined, naked, sweaty bodies were writhing and slamming together, his head thrown back moaning.

Perhaps he played the game too well. Lucius gripped his cane, licked his lips and broke visual contact with great reluctance ignoring the light sheen of sweat that broke out across his forehead. Narcissa clutched Lucius' arm, nails dug in viciously that matched her strained smile. "Severus asked you a question."

Lucius blinked at Narcissa, brows furrowed as if he momentarily forgot where he was. "Severus?" He looked at the young man questioningly.

"I asked after your father. Has his health improved?"

"Yes, thank you for asking. He's…" Lucius glanced at Aquila before looking again at Severus, "progressing."

With her arm entwined with Lucius', Narcissa took charge of the situation. "We need to get back to him, actually. Good Christmastide to you all."

"Right you are, love." Lucius graced his wife with a smile, "Happy Yuletide."

Aquila raised an eyebrow, "Yuletide? Are you German?"

Narcissa laughed, "Any excuse for drinking and gifts."

"Speaking of excuses for drink, we'll be celebrating Hogmanay. You are all welcome at Malfoy Manor." Lucius made eye contact with Aquila, his nostrils flared. "Don't be late."

Lucius walked off with Narcissa in tow. The four watched silently until they were out of earshot. Alphard rounded on Aquila grabbing the younger wizard by the arm and pulled him closer. He hissed through clenched teeth. "What was that all about?"

Aquila chanced a glance at Severus; his obsidian gaze was guarded and hurt. The Gryffindor sagged against his cousin. "His legilimens caught me by surprise."

"Nonsense, Dorea taught you. We talked about this." Alphard groaned and stared at Severus before rounding on his cousin again. "You didn't. Dammit Aquila you're fifteen for fuck's sake. Legilimens is not something you toy with and Lucius Malfoy is a grown man." His voice lowered, his grip tightened. "He will take you. Your age will not matter to him."

"I am sorry, Alphard." Aquila swallowed thickly and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Yes, well I dare say you will have a birthday to remember." Alphard dragged Aquila towards the Leaky Cauldron at a fast pace, forcing Regulus and Severus to hurry behind them in order to keep pace. "I'm taking you home before you do something else utterly stupid. Sometimes I forget that you're just a child."