Chapter 8 – talking his way out of trouble.

Pretty faces are a curse,

dashing looks only cause problems

getting out of trouble is always a trick,

sweet words and sweeter smile,

can win or lose a game.

Lucius stood in the entrance of the alcove, his eyes hungrily devouring the pair. He wore a navy blue velvet shirt and a black leather waist coat. Tight black pants showed off his still surprisingly well shaped legs. His pale gold hair fell loose around his shoulders and down his back. Harry felt more then his heart sink at the site of him.

Severus growled as Lucius pulled him out of the alcove by his plait. Lucius tugged at his hair and pushed him to his knees. Another lesser death-eater pulled Harry along with him. Severus watched as the "kids" manhandled Harry, kicking and pushing him down next to him. Snape growled at them, ready to get back up. Lucius tightened his grip on his hair and yanked. Severus fell heavily onto his knees.

I am too old to have to deal with this shit; my knees are not what they used to be. Severus hid a wince and pulled himself up a little and tried to remove Lucius from his hair. Lucius responded by tightening his grip.

"Will you lay off the fucking hair" Severus snarled up at him. Lucius smiled serenely at him and wrenched him up against him. He was held tightly by the hair and Malfoy' wand warm against his throat.

"You always did have the prettiest hair, Severus" Lucius murmured against his ear. Snape just turned his head to one side and refused to reply. He could feel his warm breathe tease the side of his neck.

"Get off him!" Harry snapped angrily, attempting to get to his feet, only to be pushed down harder. Harry glared up at the image of Lucius and Severus pressed up against one another and Severus's head tilted back as if offering his bared throat to him, with the weight of Lucius pulling his hair. Severus was attempting to push Malfoy off him, resulting in his hand spread over his chest. The pair looked too comfortable in his opinion.

"Potter, desist, I am perfectly capable of dealing with this detritus" Snape replied indifferently, barely glancing at him, but Harry was sure that he detected warning and concern in his glance.

"Now, now Severus, no need for being mean; we both know that's there is better things that your sharp tongue can be used for" Lucius ragged his hair roughly eliciting a delicate gasp from Severus's pink lips. Lucius took it for the invitation that it clearly wasn't and captured the slightly parted lips in his own and plundered his mouth.

It had been a long time since Severus had been kissed by Lucius; and he was still an amazing kisser. A moan was torn reluctantly from his throat and his eyes closed against his will.

Everyone had clearly forgotten about Harry as he pounced on the pair before anyone could blink. With an animalistic snarl he was on top of Lucius attempting to strangle him.

All Harry could see was this red haze of fury in front of his eyes that removed any common sense and made it seem like it was a good idea to throw himself bodily at the death-eater lord. Harry wasn't quite sure what he planned on doing, but the idea of anyone touching Severus did bad things to his logic and self control.

Probably something I should evaluate at a later date, Harry decided absently.

"Potter! Potter!... Harry!" Harry and Lucius rolled around the floor gracelessly as Severus was held back. Harry didn't seem to hear him and attempted to bang Lucius's head against the wall. Lucius managed to get on top and pinned Harry to the ground. He lifted his hand and back-handed him.

"How dare you engage me in such common practices! You caveman" Lucius snarled as he straightened up. With an elegant flick of his head, Harry was bodily lifted up from his position on the floor and held in place.

"Fuck you" Harry snarled angrily, testing the arms that held him. Lucius back handed him again, Harry's face snapping to one side.

"Stop that Lucius" Severus admonished in teacher mode tone. Lucius glanced back and frowned.

"Secure the pair and chain them to the wall in the "veil" room" Harry's eyes widened and shook his head, looking at Severus panicking. Severus glanced at him but said nothing.

"Stay calm" Severus murmured in his ear, as Harry began to shake and when they started walking down the corridors.

Corridors and rooms were passed by without a glance, shadows and other unmentionables flittered past. Harry could feel his heart pound against his chest like fists and his body starting to shake.

I've not been back here since fifth year. I don't think I can deal with it. Even the mere words pain me. Nearly losing Sirius and the countless pointless deaths had almost destroyed him and the idea that they would be returning there made him sick.

"You can do this, Brat…" Severus started to comfort him but found hard kicks to the back of his knees distracted him.

The pair was flung on the floor unceremoniously. Severus growled and tried to jump on the offender but all he got for his trouble was a cutting curse to his back. Severus hissed but merely returned to the floor beside Harry in reluctance.

"You ok?" Harry whispered, shuffling closer. Severus merely rolled his eyes and proceeded to glare at his captors. The power of his glares had managed to reduce better men to tears; so he thought it was worth a shot.

Lucius sat himself on his make shift throne where his slobbering inner circle members gathered around him like the soldiers that they no doubt were.

Severus watched them from under his eyelashes, whilst sparing a glance to Harry who was trying not to admit freaking out.

"We'll be out of here soon," Severus whispered to Harry. Harry nodded absently; knowing no matter what situation they were in Snape would get them out.

Lucius kept one eye on the traitorous pair as they conversed. Their heads were close together. He did not like that one bit. They made a striking pair; although roughened up and vulnerable, they were poised like deadly panthers and just as dark and beautiful.

"My lord, what do you plan on doing to the pair?" Yaxley asked quietly, staring at the tied up pair without expression. Lucius glanced at her. She was a pretty little thing, doll like in features and the youngest of the inner circle at 22. But Lucius was not one to judge a book by the cover. The girl was a merciless killer and a vicious duellist. Elena Yaxley had been brought up in the centre of the last war and had been pretty much given to the dark lord as a gift. Most of the death-eaters had been especially hard to the child, thinking it unfair that such a sickly looking child had been given such a privilege above there own children. The girl had had to look after herself and managed with a stead fast determination and fervour.

"What do you suggest we do to them?" He asked her. Yaxley cocked her head in thought.

"Perhaps it would be ironic to test our new potions on them, what with such an esteemed potions master in residence"

Lucius laughed and then glanced at the pair as they were lifted onto the chains on the wall. The neo-death-eaters cut layers of clothing of the prisoners. Potter was quickly divested of his battle-wear. Lucius looked over the younger man and had to admit that he was quite a fine specimen, but then his attention was caught by his subjects unravelling the beautiful, elusive Severus.

Harry tried to fight the uncouthly death-eaters as they ripped the battle gear off his hanging body and started burning them. But he was soon distracted by the unveiling of his professor.

Inch by inch of perfect glowing ivory skin was revealed. Firm toned thighs and long elegant legs were exposed. Lucius and Harry watched in morbid desire as Severus was unwillingly stripped and made to bear his tantalizing flesh. He was so very beautiful that it hurt to look at him. Severus's body was not all hard angles that you expected but silky, smooth and so very touchable skin over steel abs and muscles. Endless legs and elegant hands; as well as a washboard stomach with perfectly formed six-packs.

One of the death-eaters casually cut Severus as he attempted to get the armoured trousers off. Severus gasped as he felt the cutting curse tear at one of his upper thighs. The pain was soon behind a barrier that kept pain at bay but both Harry and Lucius was fuming.

"Crucio"

Lucius growled out at the stupid insubordinate.

"Do not hurt him, you bumbling idiot" He growled angrily. Making his way to the luscious potions master, he gently and lovingly tucked a stray hair behind his ear and caressed his injured thigh with his wand as he healed the deep cut. Snape just stared impassively at him.

"What goes through your mind? Luke" Severus asked quietly, not really expecting an answer. Lucius smiled sheepishly. It felt as if the years had fallen away and back to a time when the pair had been best friends


"Are you done yet?" Sirius whinged; twirling his wand absently in his finger as he slouched against the minister's desk. It was taught by all magical schools and the Auror training not to do that; but it was a habit he could not kick. It had led to some interesting results that weren't

"No I am not; maybe if you helped me, it would get done quicker." Hermione snapped back, head bent over a filing cabinet. She knew he was a lost cause but couldn't help but hope.

"But it's confusing!" Sirius complained, sighing sadly. Hermione glanced up.

"I'm only looking for the files of which death-eaters are still at large"

"BOORRINNG!" Sirius faked a yawn and leant on the desk. Hermione merely ignored him and continued looking frantically.

Sirius glanced around the office, turning finally to a large mirror behind the large oak desk Hermione was leaning against. The mirror was beautiful, obviously extremely old. The mirror was oval and cased in dark ash gray metal that swirled up the mirror like water or oil. Sirius was never one to keep his hands to himself; so he couldn't help but poke the smoky glass.

"Gnaghhh…" Sirius jumped back a step and Hermione barely glanced in his direction. Sirius paused and pouted for a moment then, not having learnt his less the first time, edged forward with his whole hand until his fingers were pressed against the icy cold mirror. The reflection shimmered and moved, changing and re-organising.

"Mione…!"

"Hmmmmm…?" he was used to Hermione not taking him seriously. He barely scowled in her direction.

"I think I found something interesting" he reached over and pulled her over gently over by the elbow. Hermione sighed but allowed him to manhandle her; although she was the brains and reason of the partners, Sirius was a legend in the old days of the Aurors with razor instincts and intuition.

"What is that?" Hermione leant forward and poked the mirror. They both jumped back as the mirror swirled into action. Images became clearer and suddenly a video showed of them.

"Ah, CCV" Hermione remarked looking closely at the mirror. Her mirror image copying her.

"There's another you in that mirror, we need to get her out!" Sirius pointed accusingly at the image; before jumping up and grabbing a chair to break it.

"NO" Hermione restrained him laughing. "It's a security device that lets you see things happen while it's happening"

Sirius was silent for a moment as he puzzled it through.

"So we can see what's happening in the building"

"Exactly, I think it's a good idea to check on the boys in the veil room. See if they have arrived there"

"How?"

"I think if you touch it, with intent to see certain people or rooms, it should work"

"Go on then" Sirius pushed her forward.

"Why don't you do it?"

"Well if it's not a security mirror, I don't want it to steal my soul. Go on" He pushed her forward again and Hermione reluctantly placed her palm on the cold mirror.

After several tense moments as the mist swirled hypnotically, it cleared showing a clear birds-eye view of the veil room.

"Oh that channel…that channel!" Sirius bounced up and down several times.

"Oh be quiet and look!"

The pair stared at the mirror in dismay.

"Get hold of the guys…we need to get them out of… I never realised Professor Snape had that BODY under those robes" Hermione was suddenly very distracted. Sirius growled and pushed her out of the way; passing her his magic-friendly mobile.

Who would ever want to look at Sniv…I mean yeah he's always been pretty; more so once he cleaned up and bathed regularly but he couldn't imagine his body being that spectacular to cause such a reaction.

"Get in touch with Draco, Charlie, Ginny, and Luna while I keep watch" Hermione blushed and retreated to the other side of the room. All of a sudden she felt quite flushed and short of breath.

Sirius watched the mirror for several seconds before letting out a small breath.

"Merlin's balls if I had known what was hidden beneath those old robes of his, I would have given him some good old Sirius magic…!"

"Sirius magic? Do I really want to ask why you are perving on my godfather?" Draco's voice mockingly interrupted Sirius's mucky musings. Sirius blushed and grinned a little; pointing at the mirror. Draco gracefully strolled over and peered at the mirror. His eyes slowly widened and his breath caught in his throat. The hint of a flush rose on his pale cheeks.

"Fucking hell…"

"Exactly"

"When did that happen?"

"That's what I thought"