A/N: hey guys
Sorry for taking this long, I've been distracted.
Thanks for all the review, I'm totally loving them.
Usual apologies
Disclaimer: see previous chapters
Severus let out a deep breath as he tilted his head back and shut his eyes to let the wooden chair cradle his stressed form. Late morning light shone through the window in the kitchen in Grimmauld place and the potions master briefly opened his eyes to look out at the back yard and garden where he had just been tending to his monkshood a few moments before.
Hopefully it would be ready in time for him to make next months batch of wolfsbane for Lupin before the school year starts.
Severus sighed as he thought of the werewolf slash previously hated enemy who would now be his colleague at the start of the new semester.
The new defence against the dark arts professor.
No logical combination of words can describe how Severus had felt when Albus called him in and made the announcement just a month before the school year was meant to end three months ago.
The slytherin head of house has been after that particular position since his very first application to Hogwarts just a few weeks after he'd gotten his mastery on potions, making him the youngest to ever reach that rank in the field.
Severus found the class fascinating since his first days at school and has never really seen the dark arts themselves as dark, but simply another form of magic. He remembers the books he'd managed to smuggle out of the restricted section in the library, reading about all the different spells and charms which had the potential to either build cities or destroy them. Make dreams come true or create living nightmares.
Getting the DADA job would have given Severus even more access to knowledge that he could only dream of. Sure he was already quite educated on the subject, but being the DADA professor at Hogwarts would have given him even more knowledge. More leeway and more freedom to explore the world of the dark arts, to find spells and counter spells, curses and remedies without being labled as dark himself.
Severus sat up a bit more in his chair and glanced down at the kitchen table to stare at the steaming cup of tea that Kreecher had made for him just before he disappeared a moment ago.
He could have gotten all the knowledge he wanted twelve years ago, when he was offered a place beside the dark lord that fateful night when Mulciber and Rosier had joined.
But that was also the night that Sirius had proposed to him just before he was set to leave with Avery.
In the months before the death eater meeting Avery had been a constant presence by his side. Apparently he-who-must-not-be-named had gained knowledge about Severus through the younger followers who had either graduated from Hogwarts or were still students. Avery kept whispering in his ear, telling him how impressed the dark lord was by all he's heard. How he thought that the raven would make him an excellent soldier and most of all Avery told him how Voldemort desired Severus.
The potions master remembers how his skin had crawled at the mere thought but the Avery would draw him in again with talks of all the dark lord had to offer. The respect, the fortune the prestige... The knowledge, and he found himself seriously considering it.
But then of course Sirius came by the very night that the meeting was set to start, dropped down on one knee and pulled out a silver wedding band which he'd apparently spent months saving up for since his parents had disowned him by that time.
Severus had stared into those stormy grey eyes just flooding with love and devotion and that pleading puppy like pout on his Sirius' face before giving a sigh as he realised that he'd made a decision.
They married a year later after graduation and Severus decided to take up teaching instead, figuring that he could gain just as much knowledge from Dumbledore while teaching at Hogwarts as the Dark Arts professor as he could running around as a death eater anyway.
Of course Albus hadn't given him the job, choosing instead to give it to one incompetent lackey after another.
Really it's a miracle any of the students learnt anything from that class.
Soon the war came and Severus was too busy working for the light and tracking down traitors to really care too much about who was currently employing the DADA position. But once the war ended it was right back down to business and yet Albus still refused to give him the position for some baffling reason.
So naturally finding out that one of his school tormentors had gotten the job he's always wanted didn't exactly sit well with him.
Of course Severus loves the subtle art of potions. Brewing is something he'd learnt from his mother and despite his less than ideal childhood he really did love her dearly.
Brewing was after all one of the few things concerning the world of magic that Eileen could share with her son without angering her husband, since she somehow managed to pass it off as teaching Severus how to cook. Burning special weeds and flowers to make it smell like something edible was being made and not a draught for the living death.
Severus has fond memories of his mother showing him why certain potions were meant to be stirred one way and not another. Why it's imperative to never over heat another and why certain ingredients should be cut horizontally at length and not vertically.
Eileen would give him a small smile making sure to turn her head just enough so he wouldn't be forced to stare at the cuts and bruises she'd gotten the night before and pull the collar of her shirt up just enough to hide the hand marks on her pale skin.
If there was ever any reason why he loved potions its because he'd learnt to find it as a means of escape from the harsh world, just as his mother had done in their small kitchen at Spinners end. I suppose you could say he still uses it as a means of escape.
It's kind of ironic actually.
Eileen used potions as a means to escape her abusive husband and their poor living circumstances, while her son used potions to escape his cheating husband.
On the upside Severus wasn't living in the health code violation he once called a home at Spinners end.
Grimmauld place was nothing to sneer at.
After the war and the deaths of his family members Sirius had the entire town house renovated and re-furnished. It was no longer the dark hollow of depression it once was, the town house was warm and inviting. A few of the walls had been knocked down to give way to large open widows to let in as much natural light as possible and the walls were repainted with warm colours of red and brown.
A touch of emerald green and silver here and there, Sirius wasn't too fond of the slytherin colours but his husband was the head of house so he forced a compromise.
Severus reached out to take the steaming cup on the table as a memory from the day they moved into Grimmauld place forced itself into his mind.
Merlin Sirius had been driving him insane that entire morning.
Constantly clinging to Severus' waist, whispering in his ear and generally getting in the way without making any effort to help his husband unpack his things. It was horribly wonderful, but I suppose they were still in the honeymoon phase at that point.
They didn't get much done that first day in grimmauld place.
It started with a stolen kiss in front of the floo and ended with them just barely making it up the stairs to their bedroom that night.
Severus swirled the handle of silver spoon resting in his tea. Things were so simple back then, because back then very little had mattered.
All that mattered was that Severus loved Sirius and Sirius loved him back, everything else they could handle as it came their way. It was, as much as Severus hates to admit it, nice.
Comfortable.
But now things are different.
Now Severus had quite possibly started an affair with his husbands best friend because said husband has been cheating on him for the passed eight years.
The potions master still wasn't sure how he felt about what happened between him and Potter the night before.
Part of him felt disgusted for committing such an act against the man he loves or rather loved and with his once hated enemy no less. Another part of him felt a little liberated at the prospect of starting something that was normally seen as a taboo. It was a little exciting actually, the idea of doing something wrong but not really feeling the need to care either. An adventure of sorts.
And at that thought Severus groaned.
Sweet Merlin he sounds like a lonely housewife searching for excitement with a secret lover, which actually summed up his situation quite spectacularly but for now Severus wanted to enjoy the luxury of at least pretending he wasn't like a housewife on one of those muggle soap opera's.
Severus stirred his tea one more time and stopped to lift the cup to his lips when the roar of the floo rang through the town house and Kreecher popped into the kitchen a moment later.
"Begging your pardon, master Severus. Mister Potter and mister Potter's son are asking for entry through the floo." Kreecher ground out with a slight glare in his eyes. James was after all Sirius' best friend and although the Potter head of house wasn't half as cruel as Sirius was to the elf, Kreecher still thought of anything associated with Sirius was worthy of being obliviated.
Severus frowned as he glanced up at the clock on the wall, wondering what James could possibly be doing here with Harry so early in the morning but he still set his cup down and stood from his seat. "Let them in."
"Yes sir." The elf growled out before he popped out of the room and Severus made his way over to the floo where he found an anxious James standing with Harry standing by his side with a small bag held tight in his arms.
"Morning auntie Sev."
"Harry." Severus said with a nod to the boy as he leaned against the door way while Harry beamed a bright smile which Severus tried to ignore. "Potter, isn't it a little early to torture me with your presence?"
James rolled his eyes, "You know one would think that after what happened last night, you'd start referring to me by my first name."
Severus arched an eyebrow at the auror in question, "I'm sure I have no idea what you're referring to Potter. Now if you'll kindly explain exactly what you're doing here so I can throw you out, it would be deeply appreciated."
James growled in frustration making Severus smirk, before the hazel eyed man took a deep breath. "I'm here because I was hoping you could watch Harry for a few hours."
"Why would you want me to? Isn't Harry supposed to be spending the weekend with you?"
"Yeah he is, but there's an emergency at the auror's department and I have no idea how long I'll be. I would have taken him to Lily's but she's working this weekend and I don't want him home alone with the elves." James explained, raking a hand through his hair before giving Severus a pleading look. "Look I know you hate having your space invaded but I'll make it up to you I swear."
Severus sighed and shut his eyes in frustration, not sure how he should feel about the emergency Sirius had made a while back, which was apparently a real emergency. The potions master looked down to find the two Potters with identical looks of hope on their faces and he sighed yet again.
"Fine, but only for a few hours."
James grinned, "Thank you so much." Severus just glared in annoyance as James set the bag he was holding down and quickly stepped back into the floo. "I really will make it up to you."
"That won't be necessary. I'm not sure I'd ever want any symbol of your appreciation Potter." Severus drawled out and James just rolled his eyes before looking back down at Harry. "I'll be back to pick you up later, Harry."
Harry gave a nod, "Good luck dad."
James smiled before throwing down the floo powder and calling out, "Department of ministries!" Flames roared in the small room and Severus took a deep breath before looking down at the nine year old boy that stared up at him. Harry kept shuffling his feet and glancing down at his bags and Severus fought the urge to do the same since he wasn't exactly sure what to do when the older man just sighed and raked back the loose strands of hair that fell over his face from the loose pony he'd tied at the top of his head.
"Well, since you're here you might as well help me with my herbs out back. Maybe a younger hand might help my wolfsbane grow a little faster." Severus tried for a small smile which Harry returned and the potions master pointed towards the living room. "Run along then, go put your things down and meet me in the kitchen."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Narcissa Malfoy.
Harry stared with wide eyes at the beautiful blonde woman standing on the other side of the threshold and in return Narcissa let her cold blue eyes sweep over the little boy before her. Her nose seemed to wrinkle at the unruly mop of raven hair on the top of his head and the prints of mud and dirt on his shirt and pants.
Harry almost shrunk back when the woman's eyes locked onto his and he immediately diverted his eyes. He wasn't really used to anyone scrutinising him so closely, Severus used to do it but somehow Harry just felt like it was different with him.
"Now why do you look so familiar?" The woman said with a slight tilt of her head and an almost contemplative look in her eyes when a voice came from the inside of the house.
"Harry, I thought I told you to let Kreecher-"
Severus appeared in the doorway and surprise flashed in the older man's eyes until a slight smile pulled at his lips. Harry immediately moved behind him, latching onto the leg of Severus' pants as he looked up at the blonde woman. The potions master glanced down at Harry for a moment and let his smile spread a little more. "Narcissa, I see you're still striking fear into the hearts of the innocent."
"Well in my defence, I had no idea we'd encounter any innocents on my trip here." The woman said in amusement and Severus arched an eyebrow when the woman said we, but it quickly fell when he noticed the shorter head of slicked hair wearing impeccable robes, standing just behind the woman with the signature Malfoy smirk plastered on his lips.
"Draco." Severus smiled making Harry look up at him with confusion until he looked around Narcissa to see another boy his age standing right behind her. "Growing up to be a fine young man I see."
"Good morning uncle Severus."
"Harry this is Narcissa Malfoy and her son Draco. Draco, Harry Potter."
"Ah yes, Potter, I thought he looked familiar. Enough of the pleasantries." Narcissa said dismissively as she pushed her way into the house and Severus just sighed as he let the woman pass with her son following close behind. Draco let his eyes linger on Harry as he moved passed and the blonde's nose wrinkled in disgust for a brief moment making the other boy frown.
"Would you care to tell me exactly what Potter's spawn is doing in your home?" Narcissa said as she pulled off her cloak when Kreecher appeared beside her and took her cloak before hurrying over to Draco's and taking his as well.
"May Kreecher be getting mistress and master Malfoy something to drink?"
"Tea." Narcissa said simply as she sat down on the couch and Draco sat down beside her, Severus followed and sat down as well with Harry sitting close by his side. Draco narrowed his eyes down at the other boy while Harry just stared back.
"His father had a work emergency and asked me to watch over Harry in his absence." Severus pulled a long strand of hair behind his ear and Harry looked up at him adoringly seeming to be just seconds away from touching the older man's hair himself. Narcissa couldn't help but blink in surprise at the sight while Draco frowned.
"And how does Harry feel about this?"
Severus suppressed a groan, he knew exactly why Narcissa had asked that question since he could feel Harry's stare burning into him like it always did.
"Harry's been helping me in the garden." Severus said trying to skirt around Narcissa's question, "He has quite the promising hand at handling potions ingredients. I dare say much more promising than his father could ever hope to be."
"Really?"
"Yes, Harry also happens to be a parseltongue."
"Parseltongue, such a rare gift." The woman said with and odd quirk of her brow when Harry smiled at the praise, "A future slytherin perhaps?"
Harry looked up at the woman and frowned at her, "Slytherin?"
"Why yes child," Narcissa said as she smoothed her hands over her skirt. "One of the four houses in Hogwarts, you do know about Hogwarts don't you?"
"Yes, but, but dad said when I go to school I'll probably end up in Gryffindor." Harry said in ernest and blinked in surprise when Draco openly scowled when he said gryffindor.
"Gryffindor? Well considering your parentage, I'm afraid it is the only obvious route. Such a shame considering that Severus is the Slytherin head of house." Narcissa said setting the trap and she almost smiled.
"Head of house?" Harry asked as he looked up at Severus and the older man just glared at Narcissa.
"It means that he's in charge of all the slytherin students." Draco sneered arrogantly. "It also means that he lives in the slytherin dungeons with the students."
"Really?" Harry's eyes went wide and Severus bit back a groan at that smug look on Narcissa's face while Draco just glared at Harry. It was all getting to be a little annoying for Severus' taste so he looked down at Harry and gave him a small smile.
"Harry. Draco's also very talented himself, why don't you take him outside and show him what we've been working on."
Harry looked back at Draco and saw the blonde wearing a sneer of disgust making him wrinkle his nose at the other boy and pout before looking back at the older man beside him. "But, auntie Sev, I'd rather stay here."
"Auntie Sev?" Draco scoffed as he crossed over his chest as he glared at the boy when he caught his mothers gaze and groaned at the look on her face. "But mother-"
"Draco, whining is an action unbeffiting of a Malfoy."
"So is wallowing around in the mud like a p-" Draco hissed and Narcissa's eyes narrowed down at him making the boy swallow back his words.
"You will go outside and get some fresh air with the Potter boy, or else tonight's little excursion will be cancelled." Draco's mouth fell open as he gaped at his mother before he quickly shut it and glared at the ground.
Severus just sighed, "Go on Harry, Lady malfoy and I have some things we need to discuss in private." Harry looked like he wanted to argue before he just sighed as well and jumped off the couch. He gave a brief glance towards the boy beside his mother, "C'mon then, garden's this way."
Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and Draco slowly slid off his seat to follow. They had barely even left the room when Kreecher reappeared and set down a silver tea set.
"Your tea mistress Malfoy, master Severus."
"Thank you Kreecher. You can go, we'll serve ourselves." Severus said making the elf smile while Narcissa just moved to fill one of the tea cups on the tray.
"Master is most welcome." Kreecher popped out of the room.
Narcissa poured some cream into the cup and leaned back into her seat with a smirk on her lips, "My my my, auntie Sev. What a lovely devoted little nephew you have."
Severus just narrowed his eyes at the woman as he pulled his wand out of his pocket and spelled the tea to pour itself out and levitate towards him. "Please don't remind me, he's been absolutely insufferable ever since his sixth birthday. I can't imagine what he could possibly see in me."
"I believe it's the same thing my cousin sees in you, until he turned into a complete imbecile." Narcissa said as she stirred her tea and Severus gave a snort.
Narcissa is the first person he ever told about Sirius' indiscretions and in a way he's grateful that she's the first one to find out.
Lily had lost it completely when she found out and although Remus never explicitly told Severus that he knew, Severus could always tell by the gentle manner that the werewolf treated him.
Narcissa on the other hand hadn't reacted so dramatically. She just took it for what it was, let Severus spew out all his frustrations while she kept feeding him glasses of firewhiskey which were charmed to automatically refilled themselves.
"Its the slytherin bride's curse." Was all that lady Malfoy had said before she told him about Lucius' indiscretions and Severus somehow felt a little better knowing he wasn't the only one going through the same thing.
Although Narcissa always insisted that her situation was in no way similar to his.
"Where is the noble heir to the house of Black? Knee deep between some skirt's legs I assume." Narcissa said as she sipped her tea and Severus winced at her words.
Another thing he both loves and hates about Narcissa, she is brutally honest. Which of course hurt more often than not, but the blunt truth always helped him accept the truth and move on a little further.
"No actually, he's out on an actual auror emergency." Severus said as he let out a deep breath, "That's why Potter asked me to watch Harry for him."
"Really, why didn't he just take the boy to his mother?"
"Lilian is working this weekend and he didn't want to leave Harry home alone with their elves."
"Oh, so he brought him here?"
"Yes."
"And you agreed to do him this favour?"
"Surprisingly yes." Severus shrugged and Narcissa arched an eyebrow in question while her eyes narrowed down in suspicion. The potions master sipped on his tea as since he could almost see the gears working in Narcissa's head and he wondered what conclusion she would come up with when-
"Dear sweet Merlin you're fucking James Potter, aren't you?!"
Severus' eyes went wide and he started choking on his tea. The slytherin head of house coughed and thumped his hand on his chest as he tried to catch his breath while Narcissa just stared at him in complete wonder and he hissed.
"I am not fucking James Potter!"
"Oh yes yes, fine he's fucking you." Narcissa said dismissively before she continued, "And how did that happen?"
"It did not. I'm not sleeping with him and I'd prefer it if you didn't use such vulgar language." Severus huffed angrily as attempted to take another sip of tea.
"Well then what do you prefer?" Narcissa asked with an arched brow and a smirk. "Sex, shag, bugger, the horizontal mambo-"
"Narcissa, you should be ashamed of yourself."
"I should be ashamed? I'm not the one partaking of forbidden fruit with my husbands best mate... Have you tasted his fruit yet or haven't you gotten around to that bit yet?"
Severus groaned, "Do you ever stop?"
"We both know the answer to that question Severus." Narcissa said as she sipped from her tea and reached out her hand to accio a biscuit off the tray. "Now I do believe that you haven't answered my question. How did this happen?"
Severus just stared back at the woman, "How could you have possibly guessed that so easily?"
Narcissa shrugged, "Well I tried to think of all the possible reasons you could have for watching his son. At first I thought he might be paying you, but I'm sure there's no amount of money in the world that could persuade you to do James Potter a favour. Then I thought that maybe you actually like spending time with the boy, but that doesn't explain why his father would bring him here. Whatever reason you both have for softening you up so much could only be related to sex."
Severus almost rolled his eyes at her explanation while she finished, "It was quite simple actually. Now you still haven't answered my question."
The potions master sighed and he looked away as he spoke, "For the record I'm not sleeping with him."
"Just giving each other head then?"
"Narcissa!"
"Oh calm down." Narcissa said dismissively, "One would think that after all these years of being married to Sirius you would be less of a prude. Hopefully Potter can 'knock' all of that modesty out of you."
"I'm starting to see why Rodulphos fell for Bellatrix instead of you." Severus glared and Narcissa's nose wrinkled in disgust at the mere thought.
"Thank Merlin Lucius got the marriage contract to mother before he did. Now answer my question."
"We haven't done anything." Severus growled out in frustration before taking a deep breath, "I just kissed him last night after we had dinner."
"Last night? And what were you doing having dinner with Potter last night?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but somehow he found out about Sirius and well..."
Narcissa sat up a little more in her seat, "Well what?"
Severus took a deep breath, "He made me an offer."
The woman stared at him for a moment before she spoke, "So he offered to have secret sexual relationship with you as a means to distract you from Sirius and ease his own loneliness."
Severus just blinked in surprise, "How do you do that?"
"Well what else could he have offered you, we've already established that you're sleeping with with him. Or rather you will soon be sleeping with him, the rest was quite easy to figure out."
"How is it that my NEWT scores were higher than yours?"
"Stop avoiding the subject Severus."
The slytherin head of house took a deep breath, "Basically yes."
"And yet all you've managed to do was kiss him?" Narcissa asked incredulously, "What is he impotent?"
"Considering the fact that he was married and has a child I'm guessing the answer to that is no." Severus drawled out as he took a sip of tea.
"Then what's wrong?"
"What happened last night, changes nothing between us."
Narcissa frowned, "Why not? You're not getting cold feet are you?"
"Narcissa I'm married."
"To an immature, self centred, arrogant berk."
"So you're suggesting I exchange shagging one immature, self centred, arrogant berk for another?" Severus asked with an arched brow? And Narcissa just shrugged.
"Basically, yes."
Severus growled in annoyance, "I'm not doing that."
"Why not?" Narcissa huffed in an almost childlike manner, "You've already kissed him all that's left now is-"
"The same reason why you haven't cheated on Lucius yet." Severus snapped irritably making Narcissa recoil as the room fell into silence. Severus took a deep breath and shut his eyes to apologise when-
"For the last time, my situation with Lucius is no way similar to yours."
"So you keep telling me." Severus said as he held the woman's gaze, "But you never tell me how it differs."
Narcissa looked away and took a deep breath before sipping from her tea as she spoke, "Lucius loves me, he always as and he always will."
"Just like Sirius loves me." Severus said a bit bitterly while Narcissa just shook her head. "No, not the same."
"I told you about Lucius' indiscretions, about the late nights and the signs that tipped me off so to speak. But what I didn't tell you, is that Lucius has only ever cheated on me with one person. The same man over and over again for... Merlin for years."
"A man?" Now that threw Severus for a loop and he stared at Narcissa as she stared into her tea while she spoke. "Another thing I didn't tell you was that Lucius told me about him, even before we were married and yet I still agreed to marry him and not just because our families demanded it either. I saw them together once all those years ago, I used to compare it with how he treated me and I never saw any real difference. Lucius personofies the ideal that a human is capable of loving more than one person. Lucius loves both of us and I've never seen a reason for him to have to choose."
"Oh my god." Severus finally gasped and Narcissa gave a snort of amusement.
"Don't be so over dramatic. He's actually quite a lovely man." Narcissa said with a roll of her eyes before she lifted the tea cup to her lips and spoke into it quickly. "He's also started living at the manor."
Severus gaped, "What?! Narcissa why would you-"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"He's sleeping with your husband, that's why." Severus growled as he set his tea down on the table wondering why she seemed so calm about all this.
"Severus, we both know I've never been vindictive." Narcissa said and Severus arched an brow and she sighed, "Alright I attempt to avoid being vindictive."
Severus just rolled his eyes and Narcissa laughed, that rare laugh that very few people got to see. And he just stared in awe, "How can you be so calm?"
The woman smiled, "I know without a shadow of a doubt that my husband loves me, that's why. Besides over the passed few months I've come to see some of what Lucius sees in him."
"I can only imagine what that is." Severus said as he picked up his tea and grabbed his wand to cast a quick heating spell on it.
Narcissa shrugged, "Well for one thing he has amazing stamina."
Severus froze and shut his eyes as he spoke, "Please tell me you didn't."
The woman only sighed as she looked up in thought, "I wonder if sex with werewolf breeds always lasts that long."
"Oh my- wait a minute. A werewolf?" Severus put his tea down with a thud making the cup rattle a bit, "Lucius'... He's a werewolf?!"
Narcissa paused to stare back at him, "I take it you're surprised."
"Surprised?! Where did he even meet a-..." Severus stopped when it all started falling into place.
Narcissa and Lucius married no more than two weeks after graduating and with what Abraxas Malfoy is like, Severus seriously doubts Lucius would have been allowed to come into contact with a half blood let alone a werewolf half breed. Meaning the only place that Lucius could have met a werewolf was Hogwarts and as far as Severus knows, there's only been one werewolf student in Hogwarts.
"Lupin? Lucius has been seeing Remus Lupin all these years." It was absolutely mind blowing. "But how?"
Narcissa only gave a bored sigh, "The how's aren't important right now, what is important is that my relationship with Lucius isn't like yours with Sirius. Lucius loves me enough to be honest with me and because of that I realised that I loved him enough to accept his... Baggage, so to speak. Remus is a lovely young man and over the passed few months he and I have come to an agreement of sorts."
"One in which he sleeps with both you and your husband," Severus managed to ask even through his confusion. "I suppose now he's the live in mistress."
Narcissa's eyebrows furrowed together for a moment until she gave a nod, "I suppose that's an accurate way of putting it."
"Good grief," Severus groaned as he leaned back in the couch, "Please tell me my godson hasn't been exposed to this in house mistress."
"Now Severus it would be difficult trying to hide a full grown man in the manor don't you think. It's certainly not that big." The woman explained easily and Severus groaned again. "Oh come off it, Draco absolutely adores Remus. Spending time with him is one of the few times he can be a child and not the heir to the Malfoy fortune. He's already started calling him uncle."
Severus looked up at Narcissa and in that moment he almost smiled.
No matter what Lucius hoped for, Draco wasn't like him. Of course he was a Malfoy as much as any Malfoy could ever be, but he could never be as ruthless as Lucius wants him to be.
He has compassion which he's inherited from his mother and he couldn't have that killer instinct that was expected of him, at least not at such a young age anyway. Remus could be good for him, for all of them.
"And what excuse have you concocted to explain uncle Remus' presence?"
"Excuse? No excuse, we simply told Draco the truth; Remus is mother and father's wife."
The potionsmaster just stared, "Do you have any shame?"
"Not that I'm aware of, and neither should you." Narcissa said sternly as she set down her empty cup. "Severus I know you think that some part of Sirius still loves you but until he proves me wrong I won't believe it. Don't think of Potter's offer as you cheating on your husband or even some sort of twisted revenge. Think of it as you living your life and finding happiness the best way you can. You've been miserable for years Sev, I just want to see you happy."
"You're starting to sound like Lily." Severus sighed and Narcissa scowled.
"Don't you ever compare me to her, you know I despise that red headed harpy."
Severus just rolled his eyes and lay back against the couch, "I suppose he's handsome."
"You see that's worth atleast one shag." Narcissa said as she refilled her cup, "And if he's honestly that insufferable you'll at least have eased some of you frustrations."
"You're impossible."
"And you're unbelievable. Really Severus, first Sirius and now not only Potter but Potter's son as well. What is it with you and all these gryffindor men?"
"I have no idea, although Harry might have a chance in slytherin thanks to you." Severus said as he glared at her and she just smiled in return.
"I couldn't resist, that boy is so obviously smitten with you he'd probably follow you straight into a snake pit. It's actually quite adorable." Narcissa laughed, "Merlin only knows what his father will say once Harry tells him he wants to be in slytherin like his auntie Sev. Promise me you'll take pictures."
"I absolutely loath that name you know. I only let him use it because-"
And right at that moment a loud crash came from the kitchen just before a series of thuds and thumps.
"Idiot!"
"Prat!"
A/N: things between Harry and Draco are not going well.
Please review.
