A/N: O.K let's do this
This one is basically set the next night after Sirius comes home, which is basically one month after chapter eight and a few weeks before the new school year starts
Thanks for the reviews!
Usual apologies
Disclaimer: see previous chapters
Severus laughed.
A real honest to goodness laugh that sounded embarrassingly close to a giggle and the potions master mentally cursed the raven before him for forcing such a noise from his throat.
The auror had him trapped between himself and the door, hands gliding all along the potion master's sides as he made little nips and kisses all along his neck.
James came even closer, causing Severus to bump harshly against the wooden surface something that somehow only made him laugh more even as he tried to push the other away.
"Honestly Potter, you have no self control whatsoever." Severus said as he managed to push James a few inches away, almost making the auror pout at the loss in contact, "We're outside, what if someone sees us?"
"Isn't that half the fun?" James grinned as he leaned forward to press a kiss on the slytherin's lips, "Besides, you've been terribly mean to me all day, completely ignoring all my advances. I think I deserve a reward for all my patience."
Severus gave a snort even as he wrapped his arms around the auror's neck, "Patience, is that what you call attempting to assault me in every single dark corner we come across?"
"Yes," James smirked while his eyes danced with mischief and Severus just barely managed to avoid rolling his eyes. "You're insufferable."
"And you adore it."
"Hardly."
"Keep telling yourself that, love." James teased pressing a kiss on Severus' nose and the slytherin answered in a very dry tone, "Arrogance isn't attractive, Potter."
"Really? Because you seem to enjoy it."
"I find it amusing, after all it's quite entertaining watching you fail."
The auror rolled his eyes, but smiled all the same. "I suppose as long as it makes you smile then I don't really mind failing every now and then."
Severus blinked in slight surprise, feeling his face begin to warm despite himself but still managed to arch a brow in question as he spoke, "Tell me, do you actually mean that or are you just trying to earn some points so I'll finally let you shag me?"
"That all depends on how well I'm doing," James grinned while Severus huffed out a short laugh while the auror came closer to whisper against his lips, "I think that one was worth at least thirty points professor."
Severus' head gave a slight tilt and he leaned forward to close the distance, taking a moment to tangle his hands in that mess of black chaos earning a moan of pleasure before he pulled back and breathed, "I'll give you five points for a weak, but somewhat acceptable effort."
James almost gaped, "Five?"
"Yes, five. You should be grateful that I'm feeling so generous. Goodbye Potter." Severus said as he took hold of the door to open it, but James stopped him short by putting a hand on the door making the potions master look back to see a look of concern on his face.
"What?"
"Are you sure you can't stay with me, for one more night-"
"I can't," Severus said with a silent sigh as he raked a hand through his hair and briefly fiddled with the ends near his elbow, "I already spent the night with you yesterday, I can't do it two nights in a row. If I do the marital clause will wreak havoc on my magic. Hogwarts is the only exception, you know that."
James looked away and Severus let out another sigh before he moved forward to turn the auror's head back and press a soft kiss on his lips, letting it linger a little when the other's hands fell on his waist before he pulled away again.
"I'll see you tomorrow night." Severus said flashing the briefest of smiles, in turn making the hazel eyed wizard smile back. "Goodnight James."
"Night, Severus."
James turned back, out the gate and onto the street and Severus watched him apparate with a loud crack before he turned back and walked into the house.
The slytherin paused for a moment, leaning against the shut door as he stared into the dark shadows of the house he shared with his husband and took a deep breath before he made his way upstairs.
About a month has passed since he accepted James' offer and things have been... different.
In a good way, a very good way in fact.
James has been proving to be quite the distraction as of late. When the auror wasn't working he'd spend most of his time with Severus except for certain weekends of course when James spent time with just Harry. But they both knew that Harry liked it better when auntie Sev was there than when he wasn't.
As loath as Severus is to admit it, it was nice.
It's strange spending so much time with his once hated enemy and actually liking it. There's a part of Severus, that twelve year old slytherin buried somewhere deep inside of him that was perfectly pissed for letting James Potter of all people get under his skin. But the rest of him honestly didn't care.
It was somewhat liberating in a way, he'd get to spend a few hours everyday just pretending like it was all real. Like he wasn't really married to Sirius and didn't have to go back to Grimmauld place every second night even if he really knew the truth.
It was fun.
Their banter has turned into something of a sport to Severus and he can't deny that he's enjoyed all of the attention that James practically showered on him even if it was somewhat egotistical on James' part.
He hates not being the centre of attention, that much Severus has unfortunately been forced to make peace with but it wasn't all bad since James was willing to do anything to keep Severus' attention locked on him.
That was another fun game, trying to ignore James Potter.
He did it whenever the insufferable auror decided to just show up and bother him for absolutely no apparent reason. It never lasted too long though since James had the kind of persistence that could honestly put that of his dear husband's to shame.
And still it was more entertaining than annoying so Severus couldn't complain too much.
The potions master let out a soft snort as he let his hand glide up against the staircase while the other went up to feel around through the tangles in his hair, making a mental note to wash and untangle it again when he suddenly felt something that made him pause and curse underneath his breath.
Right there, a few inches beneath his ear Severus felt a slight sting when his fingers brushed against the spot.
A bite mark.
Of course.
The potions master just sighed in frustration as he made the rest of his way up the stairs.
Severus tells him not to leave any marks and what does Potter do? He bites so hard that the mark still stings.
Although Severus is a little surprised that he didn't feel the mark being made, whenever James made it. It could have been anytime over the course of the passed two days, but it's probably more recent.
On Tuesday afternoon, James had the day off and since he was so incredibly bored all alone in the Potter manor he decided to kidnap Severus and drag him back keep him company and Severus let him, if only so he'd escape the almost suffocating walls of Grimmauld place.
The majority of the day was spent on playful banter. James would tell Severus about some of the spells and artifacts he came across during raids, before switching over to Harry and how James will never forgive Severus for allowing Narcissa Malfoy to corrupt his son with all sorts of slytherin dreams.
Not that Harry now had any desires to be a slytherin, it's just that the boy seemed to be more open to the idea of being sent into a pit of snakes than he was before and James wasn't completely comfortable with that.
Severus gave a snort at the thought.
The rest of his time spent in the Potter manor was spent in James' arms, something the potions master unfortunately enjoyed more than he'd ever admit. It was so different from how things were... Used to be with Sirius.
With Sirius every kiss and touch was needy with an intense kind of desire that felt somewhat overwhelming at times.
But James was different.
Slow and intense only this intensity wasn't quite as overwhelming. No it was more like James was trying to feel him out, to map out every curve and bend on his body without there necessarily being anything sexual about it.
It's almost like James thrives on physical contact. When they sat near each other the aurors hands would always eventually end up on Severus' skin, it's like James wasn't even aware of what he was doing half the time until he finally snapped out of it and made some sort of crude joke that had Severus rolling his eyes in return.
Still it was nice. They were moving at a slow pace, nothing was rushed and the potions master never felt like he was being swept away.
It wasn't like that with Sirius. Severus can't even remember much about his and Sirius' physical relationship in the beginning since it all seemed to move so fast. He got swept up in this whirl pool of just things happening that he didn't even realise that he was being carried away.
In hindsight, Severus realises that they moved too fast. Much too fast in fact. He and Sirius hadn't even gotten together yet before they slept together and a few months after that Sirius dropped down on one knee and proposed.
Severus should have known better, but alas for all his supposed brilliance and maturity back then, he was still very young and apparently just as susceptible to teenage idiocy as everyone else his age.
Tuesday night Severus had every intention of going home and sleeping in his own bed but then James managed to convince him to stay and honestly, Severus hadn't wanted to go home just then.
Not when he knew exactly what would be waiting for him once he did, so he let Potter drag him back to his room where they didn't really do much at all. Mostly necking and grinding like a couple of teenagers that weren't quite sure how anything worked at all.
James still traced his hands all over Severus' skin and Severus kissed him like he wouldn't eventually have to go back to Grimmauld place.
Severus stopped when he suddenly found himself at the top of the stairs where mrs. Black stared back at him with those dark eyes.
"And where have you been?"
The potions master shrugged, not really caring much for anything that the woman had to say, "Out."
The portrait gave a snort but didn't start cursing so Severus just continued on his way towards the bedroom. Briefly picking at his clothes after only just realising that he's been wearing the same clothes for the passed two days.
Severus found himself alone that morning, James left a note saying that he'd gone to work and asked that Severus wait till he at least got back before he left. Which Severus again didn't really mind at all.
Severus wandered around the Potter manor all day. Poking into rooms he probably has no business going into but not really caring either. He ran into some of the elves and they helped him with whatever he needed.
Mutton was a strange little elf with large gray eyes and spoke with a level of articulation that could honestly put most of his students to shame. He showed Severus the library, study and an old potions lab in the basement that hasn't been used in years.
James came back and they had dinner before going to a wizards pub not too far away, it was all oddly normal. Severus would've sworn that he and James have been together for years and haven't just been spending time together for little over a month.
He barely thinks of Sirius anymore if he ever thinks of him at all. James doesn't really say much about his supposed best friend either, he didn't even spend time with Sirius at Grimmauld place anymore although most of the auror's time was usually spent with him anyway I suppose.
It was a little awkward in the beginning, but things are different now. Severus feels different.
He feels happier and a little bit more sane even if most people, including himself, would consider what he's doing to be absolutely insane.
Of course there is a way of ending all of this, a way that Severus isn't comfortable with at all.
If he were to get pregnant and have a child he would never have to go back to Sirius again, James has hinted at this little loophole multiple times in their conversations but Severus just can't.
A child isn't a toy. It's a living breathing being.
You can't just have one for the sake of creating some twisted means of escape. After all that he went through as a child with his weak willed timid mother, and his bastard of a father Severus just wasn't willing to risk it.
Not that he wouldn't like to have children, because he would.
A family-a proper family-is something that he was denied as a child and something that Severus has always yearned for. In a way, having a child would sort of fulfil that need and give him an opportunity to give another being the life that he only dreamt of when he was younger. Severus likes the idea of taking care of someone and having someone that depends on him.
So yes, he wants a child.
But not like this.
The potions master barely even paused before he opened the door to the bedroom and stepped inside, of course the sight that waited for him when he did was so utterly unexpected that he just froze in the doorway.
"Evening Severus."
Sirius was awake and sober, sitting on the edge of the bed.
This late at night, those words usually wouldn't make much sense to him so for a moment the potions master wasn't quite sure what to do until he just took a deep breath and carried on the way he usually did.
"Sirius."
There was a silent pause. Severus took off his coat and hung it up in the closet before doing the same with his shoes. He raked a hand through his hair to feel through the tangles and Sirius just watched him for a few moments.
"You know you probably wouldn't have to do that every night if you just cut it." Sirius said and Severus' jaw clenched but he didn't say a word. "I always liked you with shorter hair."
Which is exactly why Severus let it grow out.
But the potions master still didn't say a word, just turned around and headed straight for the bathroom when Sirius stopped him short.
"Where were you?"
"Out."
"Out where?"
At that part Severus felt anger spark inside of him as he turned back but still managed to speak in that uninterested drawl, "Where were you last night, or the night before that or the night before that?"
Sirius looked away and Severus just shook his head as he made to leave again-
"Severus."
"What?"
"Will you at least just talk to me?" Sirius asked well, pleaded is more like it and Severus felt something ache softly in his chest at that look but he kept his face blank as he spoke.
"Talk about what?"
"About us." Sirius said as he got up from the bed and Severus tensed, "We've drifted apart over the passed twelve years-"
"I can't imagine why." Severus said as he folded his arms over his chest and the animagus sighed, "Look Sev, I know things between us haven't been going well and it's mostly my fault."
"Mostly?"
"But I'd like to try and work things out between us, so things can be the way they were."
Another long pause, Severus' eyes narrowed down at the other before he spoke, "It's strange that you've only now decided that things have become so bad that, whatever's left of us suddenly requires your attention. Why do you suddenly care?"
Sirius' eyes widened at that, "Suddenly, I've always cared about you Sev that hasn't changed since the moment we were married."
"Really?" Severus sneered even as that ache grew a little stronger, "Because I'd say you stopped caring eight years ago maybe even before that."
The animagus froze, "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly, what I'm talking about. All I'm waiting for, is for you to come out and say it." Severus answered and the room fell into another bout of silence and the slytherin waited.
Honestly he waited for that moment, that moment that Sirius came clean and brought everything out in the open. He waited for some sign that the animagus might actually be trying to change something in this disaster they call a marriage but the moment never came.
All Sirius seemed to do was look away so the potions master gave a sniff, fighting back against the sting in his eyes. "Unbelievable, all this time and you still aren't going to admit it are you?"
"I-"
"Forget it." Severus said as he made for the door when Sirius quickly strode forward to catch his arm and stop him short, "Severus wait."
Severus looked back at the animagus with a cold glare even as his eyes filled with tears and he asked, "Where have you been for the passed eight years, Sirius?"
Sirius pulled back a bit, seeming to only just realise how close they were but didn't answer and Severus gave another soft snort.
"Fortunately I'm not as much of a coward as you are. I was out because I'm seeing someone else."
Sirius' eyes went wide, "What?"
"I don't like repeating myself."
With that Severus ripped his arm away and left the room heading straight for his study where he locked himself inside. A fire instantly started burning in the fireplace and Kreacher appeared with a pop. Staring at his master in concern while Severus just sat on the ground with his back against the door.
"May Kreacher be getting anything for you master Severus."
The slytherin took a deep shaky breath as he looked up at the clock on the wall before he spoke, "How long before the next full moon?"
"One week sir."
Severus gave a quick nod as he wiped his eyes on the back of his hand and quickly stood up to tie his hair up. "Go to the garden pick a handful of wolfs bane. I need to get some work done."
"Yes, sir."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Narcissa turned in the warm confines of the bed, letting out a soft sigh as she fought back against the warm fog of sleep trying to pull her back in when she heard a faint sound.
Words whispered quietly somewhere nearby.
The blonde slowly forced her eyes open, blinking back against the bright light that flooded the room and waited for her eyes to adjust before she was immediately met with a sight that should have had her shocked beyond comprehension.
Lucius was up. His hair was splayed out in a blonde mess of tangles beneath his head as he smiled up at the figure on top of him.
Remus was up as well, perched on top of the other man with his sand coloured hair in its own set of disarray. The werewolf returned the smile directed at him before leaning down to press a kiss against her husbands lips.
As always Narcissa stared. The scars that covered the werewolf's pale skin has become something of a fascination for her, those long deep lines all over his neck and chest. So different from Lucius' own scarless skin.
Again, this scene should have had Narcissa more than just a little bit upset, but it didn't.
Their situation is an unusual one. After all it's not exactly normal for a woman to be so calm about waking up to see her husband in such an intimate position with another man, but she's woken up to this specific scene so many times that its actually gotten rather boring.
Although, Narcissa isn't sure if it ever really bothered her in the first place.
A soft yawn suddenly forced itself through and the woman lifted a hand to cover her mouth but Remus heard it all the same. The werewolf pulled away from Lucius giving Narcissa a soft smile before he leaned over and pressed a kiss on her lips as well.
Soft and warm. Remus only lingered a little before he pulled back and smiled, amber eyes sparkling brighter than usual in the light. "Morning 'Cissa."
Narcissa gave a snort as she moved so she was lying on her side and propped her head up on her hand, "Remus, I see you two are already at it again."
Remus blushed, shooting the woman a glare while Lucius just huffed out a laugh, "Good morning dear."
"Hmm." Narcissa hummed briefly before another yawn left her throat and she looked up at the clock on the wall.
Seven am.
Not nearly late enough, but it wouldn't do to linger in bed all day.
Lucius let a hand tangle in Remus' hair as he pulled the other down making the werewolf let out a strangely feral sounding growl when Lucius just smirked to whisper against his lips, again the sight should have bothered her but it didn't instead Nacissa just watched them. Her eyes lingered if only for a second on the mark on his left arm. It had faded quite a bit since the day that Lucius first got it but you could see it. Narcissa's eyes slipped up back towards the werewolf when her head just gave a slight tilt to the side before she spoke.
"Going somewhere?"
Remus was already dressed and judging by the faint scent of cologne she got when he kissed her, he's already showered as well.
The werewolf paused to give a slight shrug. "The next full moon is in a three days, I have to go see Severus about the potion."
"Oh, well that certainly explains it." Narcissa said with a smirk despite the concern that burned in her gaze.
Things have gotten easier for Remus over the passed few years. The full moon doesn't take as big a toll on him as it used to be when they were younger but he still got quite ill the day before. Severus' wolfsbane helps a lot more than the potions master knows.
Remus saw that look in the woman's eyes and frowned only for Narcissa to suddenly lean forward to move away the sandy brown locks hanging over his forehead and place a kiss on his forehead as she spoke.
"Don't forget to see Draconis before you go." Narcissa said as she pulled away to slip off the bed, "He'll suffer us all with those horrific tantrums if you just leave again."
"You two need to stop spoiling him." Lucius said as he let out a snort still playing with the werewolf's hair while Narcissa arched a brow at the man as she grabbed her silk robe at the end of the bed and slipped it on in one fluid movement.
"I don't see what you're so smug about," The woman said as she walked towards the bathroom door on the other side of the room, "He gets those and that God awful pout whenever he doesn't get his way from you."
Remus laughed and Lucius glared at her while she just smirked in return when the werewolf spoke, "Good looks and charm were all your doing I suppose."
"Good boy. You learn fast." The woman said and Remus gave a pout and Lucius chuckled as he pulled the werewolf down next to him against the bed.
Narcissa just shook her head at the two before heading towards the bathroom closing the door behind her. Contrary to popular belief, every corner of the Malfoy manor wasn't decked out in cold black and dark emerald. The bathroom for one was much brighter.
Cream marble tops with gold faucets and crystallised mirrors. The room was bright and filled with artificial sunlight light that kept the room illuminated at all hours of the day. Narcissa looked up to inspect her reflection in the full length mirror against the wall near the bathroom closet.
Giving a frown at the way her hair seemed to be much worse for wear than her dear husbands before giving a snort at the red bite marks against her normally creamy pale skin.
Remus has been living with them for the passed five months after having finally given into Lucius' insistent commands for him to stop wallowing in poverty and move into the Malfoy manor.
Well... I suppose Remus didn't quite give in until Narcissa went to see him five months ago and convinced him to go back with her.
That was a product of weakness on Narcissa's part.
Lucius wanted Remus with him and Narcissa's never been able to refuse him anything he truly desired.
Even way back when they were still at school.
When Lucius first told Narcissa about Remus in seventh, the slytherin witch was less than pleased.
In fact when she found out one could say that she was perfectly pissed off, but she was Narcissa Black and a slytherin and therefore couldn't react in the way that she wanted to but that doesn't mean that she just played along either.
Lucius worked long and hard in order to keep his fiance happy in the few months before graduation, he gave her all she wanted and showered her in all the attention she could ever want and for a while she was quite satisfied. She was still aware of the fact that Lucius was seeing Remus, she saw the marks after all, the looks that the werewolf would give her fiance across the great hall but Lucius kept her happy so Narcissa was perfectly fine with pretending that Remus Lupin was nothing more than a toy that Lucius would grow bored with once enough time had passed.
But then she saw them together.
It was graduation day, Lucius had suddenly disappeared during the feast in the great hall and Narcissa went looking for him until she found him with Remus.
It was odd.
Lucius gave the werewolf the same look that he gave her whenever they were alone together, like he'd give her the moon and the stars if she just asked.
And Remus.
He looked at Lucius like his entire world revolved around him, soft loving eyes stared at the blonde with a kind of naïve wonder that Narcissa might have laughed at in any other situation.
In this situation however, Narcissa's heart only ached in longing. She could almost see herself in Remus' place, see herself flinch and look away from the dark mark branded on Lucius' arm the same way she had the first time that Lucius showed it to her. See herself lean up to kiss him softly the same way she did whenever Lucius' jaw clenched as he stared down at the mark.
Before she always thought that she'd have a much different reaction if she ever caught Lucius and Remus together.
She thought she'd glare and sneer. Hiss out a few insults and make sure that the werewolf knew exactly where his place was. But in the end Narcissa just turned around and walked away.
It felt strange watching them, like she was intruding on something she had no business intruding on when the truth was really quite the opposite.
The next few years were an awkward adjustment, in between missions for the dark lord and keeping up appearances, Lucius was under a lot of strain. Narcissa fell pregnant with Draco during the height of the war so she had to stay home most of that time, but he who must not be named was under high alert especially after news of the prophecy came out. To make things worse, Remus had cut his ties with Lucius, not really because he wanted to but because he had to. They were fighting on opposite sides after all, it wouldn't do for either of them to spend any kind of time together.
Lucius never told Narcissa that he missed Remus but she could still tell, no one knows him better than she does after all. But there wasn't much she could do about it, not that she really wanted to do anything about it. I mean, Lucius was still her husband after all, they were expecting their first child, his first heir.
Other than the whole, epic war between good and evil thing things were going so well she'd almost forgotten about her husband's school fling. But she couldn't forget for too long.
The war was reaching it's climax. Lucius was under a lot of strain and neither he nor his wife was dealing too well with that since he tended to take out his frustrations on her.
Lucius ever hurt her physically but he did avoid her, he'd snap at her and storm off or just pretend like she wasn't even there. They barely ever spoke on most days and on others Lucius almost seemed to just fade away.
Draco had been born by then but Narcissa kept him away from his father and out of view as much as possible. With Lucius' behaviour at that time she couldn't really trust that he'd treat his son any better than he would treat her.
It was just a few weeks before the prophecy was meant to be fulfilled. Death eaters were making multiple attacks all over England. They were mostly over-zealous new recruits that didn't understand the dark magic they wielded so freely and they were usually defeated quite easily, much to their dismay. But they kept the aurors occupied so the dark lord let them be.
There were other death eater attacks that were a bit more coordinated though and it's during one of these attacks that things changed somewhat for the Malfoys in a rather unexpected way.
Usually whenever the dark lords followers managed to capture one of their enemies they were executed on the spot and made an example of, however sometimes the individuals that were caught were so important that they were captured and imprisoned instead. Usually in the dungeons beneath the Malfoy manor.
It was just a few weeks before the prophecy was meant to be fulfilled that Rudolphus and William Avery managed to capture two agents working for the order of the phoenix.
Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
Now as much as Narcissa cared for her darling cousin, the moment the doors of the Malfoy manor opened and she caught sight of the werewolf being dragged down into their dungeons something inside of her just broke.
Although, I suppose broke is the wrong word, something inside of her... malfunctioned and just refused to work.
Lucius was away on a mission, so it was just her, Draco, Bellatrix and a few other death eaters with them in the manor that night so it wasn't too hard slipping passed them and making it down to the cells.
She found them in quite a state, both heavily injured and perfectly exhausted. Sirius was barely conscious while Remus worked restlessly as he tried to manage their wounds until he caught sight of her and just froze.
Sirius started hissing out curses at her, demanding to be let out while Remus just held her gaze.
Other than the obvious battle scars he looked different that he did when they were younger. It was like he aged fifteen years in the space of just five. She could see older scars on his face and neck, he had actual grey strands of hair on his head but his eyes hadn't changed.
They were that same shade of amber she remembers seeing back then, soft and gentle despite the obvious fear and mistrust she could see in them.
Narcissa had no idea exactly what she planned on doing once she made it down to the dungeons and saw him. Whatever it was she certainly didn't plan on saying.
"He misses you."
Remus' eyes widened at that and he almost seemed to stop breathing while Sirius just stared on in clear confusion. She spoke to him for a few minutes.
It was the first actual conversation that she had with her husbands highschool mistress. Sirius passed out from exhaustion or maybe blood loss at some point, eventually she and Remus came to an understanding of sorts and eventually she told him that she and Lucius wanted out of the war.
Lucius never said anything, but again, she could tell.
Lucius was tired, but pride refused to let him show so much as an ounce of weakness and Narcissa didn't want Draco growing up in the middle of a war. Pure blood ideals or not, there was a very real chance that things would go badly and the dark lord might lose. However slim that chance was, Narcissa didn't want to take that risk. Not when there were other options.
Remus still loved Lucius even though it was clear that he didn't want to love Lucius, at that point other than Severus he was the one person she could trust.
Narcissa helped them both escape, loathe as she was to help a her husbands mistress and her cousin it was done for a greater cause.
A week later Severus contacted them.
Dumbledore was offering them a way out, in exchange for information concerning members of the ministry that were secretly working for the dark lord. Since Regulus' default to the light they found a way to dampen the connection caused by the dark mark, so there would be a way for them to disappear. Of course the mark didn't disappear completely, the connection was still there and Voldemort could still very much inflict pain on Lucius or Regulus whenever he saw it fit he just couldn't find them.
So they got out, Lucius was given amnesty when the new ministry was instigated at the end of the war and they were left to live a peaceful if not somewhat boring life. But considering the alternative, Narcissa didn't mind at all.
Not even when Remus and Lucius started their affair all over again.
Narcissa set her hairbrush down on the sink, lifting her left hand to tuck a single loose hair behind her ear before turning around to leave the bathroom to find the bed empty.
Lucius was probably downstairs in his office, checking on the day's paperwork. That early in the morning, there really couldn't be anything else that he'd be doing. When the war ended things got rather boring for them so he bought a few magical businesses and companies around England and Asia. The Malfoy fortune really left them with very little need for work but Lucius was always more irritable when he didn't have something to rule over, so they gave him an outlet for some of his frustrations.
Remus on the other hand might have already left.
The blonde gave a slight sigh as she left the room and made her way down the hall, one turn to the left and then another to the right. The manor was as quiet as it always is.
Sometimes Narcissa thinks that the manor might actually be too big but then she'd remember that anything smaller would take her one step closer to the lifestyle of a Weasley and she certainly wouldn't want that.
Five more steps and Narcissa heard talking.
One was Remus, just as soft as when she heard him that morning and the other was Draco. The boy was fighting back valiantly against the urge to whine like the child he was, she could hear it in his voice.
Narcissa paused just in front of his door and tilted her head just enough to see through the small opening between the door and the frame.
Remus sat on the bed next to Draco. It seems bed head is a problem for all Malfoy's as the boy's hair was a complete mess of waves and tangles, it actually reminded her a bit of Potter and his son and their unruly hair and at that moment a shiver almost ran down her spine.
"You promised."
Remus sighed, Draco was using that patented Malfoy tone that basically made everything sound like a command.
Which it usually was.
"I'll only be gone a few days." The werewolf said as he leaned forward to press a kiss on the boy's forehead and Draco's expression faltered as his lips finally slipped into a pout when Remus raked a hand through his hair. "I'll come back, just like last time."
"Why do you need to go anyway? Where do you go every month? Why can-"
"You know the answers to those questions." Another sigh, "Someday when you're older you'll understand but for now... You need to just trust me, alright?"
"But-"
"Draco." Remus said sternly and the boy opened his mouth to argue before just shutting it all over again with a sigh.
"Fine."
Narcissa moved away from the door just as Draco leaned in for a hug and gave a sigh of her own as she made the rest of her way through the hall down the stairs.
Draco doesn't know about Remus' lycanthropy. They thought it to be the best option since the boy hadn't completely gotten used to the older man just yet.
Truth is Narcissa isn't sure if they should ever tell Draco, even though she knows that they'll have to since Draco will probably figure it out on his own eventually. Even if it takes a few years to figure out.
There were things that Draco knew.
Draco knew that Remus wasn't pure and that it wasn't acceptable for a Malfoy to associate with a half-blood, but he also knew that Remus Lupin was the exception to this rule although he didn't fully understand why he was an exception. He knew that Remus shared a room with his parents sometimes, although he wasn't completely clear on the reasons for that. He knew that the arrangement wasn't considered to be normal, although the reasons for that weren't all that clear to him either.
There were things he knew but not a lot he understood, which must be incredibly confusing for a nine year old but Draco seemed to be dealing with quite well. Either that or the boy just honestly didn't care.
Draco adores Remus, two weeks after the werewolf moved in Narcissa was more than just a little relieved when she discovered that fact. It made things easier than she thought they would be when she asked Remus to move in.
Although, Narcissa should feel more upset that her only son was getting along so well with her husbands mistress, she didn't.
Odd, but nothing in their arrangement was normal anyway.
She and Remus reached an agreement all those years ago when she saw him bruised and bleeding in the dungeons beneath the Malfoy manor, one that she still hasn't fully managed to understand and even though she managed to play it off when she told Severus about it a few months back. Narcissa knew that their understanding still had her a little confused and she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.
The blonde paused at the foot of the stairs as her head gave a slight tilt in thought and she pursed her lips together in a tight line. More than half a year and she still hasn't figured out what to make of her marriage.
She knows that Lucius loves her and although Lucius is a little hard on him sometimes, he loves and cares for Draco as well. But she also knows that he loves Remus and she understands why, what she doesn't understand is why she's so calm about it all. She should be positively livid and in a constant daily rage, but she wasn't.
A hand suddenly came down on her shoulder and Narcissa looked up to find bright amber eyes staring at her. Still soft and caring even with that fierce protective edge that seemed to spark in them.
"You look lost."
"No more than usual." Narcissa said, letting out a soft breath while Remus arched a brow at the woman since he was expecting some smart reply, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not at the moment, some other time perhaps." Narcissa folded her arms across her chest before offering the werewolf a smile, "I'm assuming that you've managed to tame Draco's fury over your absence."
"He wouldn't act up as much if you and Lucius let him have friends."
"Draco has friends."
"I meant normal friends, not arrogant little aristocrats that literally have everything spoon fed to them." Remus said with a roll of his eyes, "I'm sure if he had some time to get to know Harry they'd get along famously."
Narcissa gave a snort at that and Remus started to smile as he finished, "Or maybe some of the Weasley children."
"Please tell me that was just some twisted attempt at humour."
Remus laughed warm and light and the woman almost smiled, "You know, they really aren't that bad."
"The same could be said for trolls or ogres, spiders, pixies-"
"Now you're just being mean."
"Remus we both know I don't know the meaning of the word." The blonde said with a smirk that quickly dissolved when the werewolf glanced down at the watch on his wrist, "You're leaving earlier this time."
Remus' head snapped up and he stared at the blonde for a moment before he cleared his throat, "Severus has a new potion he'd like me to try, he said I have to come in a few days early to test it."
Narcissa just gave a nod and Remus frowned, "You should be happy that I'll be gone."
They were more honest with one another when Lucius wasn't around. They were able to sort of analyse the strangeness of their relationship without feeling too guilty about it and at times Narcissa felt more comfortable discussing it with Remus than she did with Lucius.
The blonde shifted uncomfortably at the statement before just giving a slight shrug, "I know."
"Why aren't you?"
Narcissa honestly didn't have an answer for him. Instead she leaned up and pressed a kiss on his cheek before giving a slight smile, "I expect you back as soon as the full moon has passed."
The werewolf stared again and Narcissa had to resist the urge to fidget under that gaze until he suddenly moved to cup the side of her face and give her a deep kiss. The blonde braced a hand on his shoulder to steady herself and couldn't help but sigh into it when Remus pulled back and smiled.
"I'll be back soon."
With that the werewolf left, down the last three steps and across the foyer out the front door. Narcissa let out a deep breath as she leaned against the stair case and took a moment to gather her thoughts.
There's a difference between knowing and understanding.
She knows that by societal standards their arrangement is wrong and completely unacceptable and she knows that she should be incredibly upset right now.
But for the life of her she couldn't really understand why.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Thank you."
The raven haired man said as he shut the door of the cab and stepped onto the side walk just before it pulled away.
It was around one o'clock in the afternoon and the streets were empty, but then again, he doesn't remember there being all that much traffic around this neighbourhood when he was younger.
The skies were clear and the sun was out, which was brilliant weather for London but the younger man was actually looking forward to some cold weather and dreary skies after spending months in the desert sun.
From Cairo to Heathrow airport in London, he probably would have arrived much sooner if he'd travelled by magic but over the passed ten years he found that he actually liked travelling the muggle way. So he'd take a plane or a train on occasion.
Stormy grey eyes scanned his surroundings almost as if to familiarise himself with his old home until he caught sight of a town house just a few meters away from where the cab dropped him.
Number twelve Grimmauld place.
Letting out a deep sigh the raven raked a hand through his hair before leaning down to pick up his bags, slinging a grey dufflebag over his right shoulder while he carried another in his left.
It's been a long time and even though most of his memories of that house are painful to say the least, it still feels good to be home.
A/N: yeah
Most of this was filler I guess. I just felt like I needed to touch on the whole Lucius/Remus/Narcissa thing.
Next chapter Remus and Severus sort of bond, sort of. Regulus comes home. Sirius freaks out.
Anyway, I always read reviews and from what I'm getting some of you guys really like the whole James/Sev thing. So, I figure why not just let you have the choice.
Regulus/Severus or James/Severus. There won't really be much of a change in the story either way, I guess with James/Severus the story would be finished sooner cause I wouldn't have to do much development between Sev and Reg but not much else would change. Plus I know the whole everyone is after Sev thing gets a little annoying sometimes. Ironic since I just started a story exactly like that, but I digress.
Regulus/Severus or James/Severus