CHAPTER TEN

The first week of school flew by for Harry at a speed that was unusual in the beginning. He had received multiple letters from his father asking for forgiveness, but within those letters were questions about what was going on in his personal life. There were question's Harry didn't feel like answering.

Quidditch season was kicking off, and Harry had been made the captain of his team and he sought out Katie Bell's help with setting up tryouts. Ron was a Keeper but things had begun to take a downward spiral when it came to him.

Harry didn't know why, but Ron seemed to be more hostile than he used to be and as Harry's relationship with Lucius continued from day to day, Ron seemed more agitated.

It hardly made any sense. It wasn't as if Harry was asking anything special of Ron. Hermione had been a humongous support and Harry couldn't love her enough.

It was the middle of the second week into September, and Harry was just coming off the Quidditch Pitch in scarlet and gold robes. His hair was tied back in a very messy ponytail and he smelled of sweat and stale air combined. He had dirt on his face, and was talking to Katie about who they thought was the best for the chaser position. Ron just hung back not speaking very much.

"Ginny, definitely." said Katie, looking over her shoulder, "You Weasley's have Quidditch in your blood!"

"Yes, I liked Ginny." said Harry, "But, the beaters? They bite!"

"I know," said Katie, biting her lip. "Well, how about McLaggan?"

"For the Beater position? He tried out last year for Keeper and he was a total arse." They took the stone steps up to the large school where Hermione was waiting for them. She had a bit of blush on her face that did not go unnoticed by Harry. She had the book in her arms.

Katie sighed, "I know, he was an arse Harry, but he can hit-"

"Yeah! Me!" exclaimed Harry, "Not to mention he's a little grabby." His arm looped around Hermione when he said this. "Ron? What do you think?"

Ron shrugged, "I'm not the captain." he said, sourly.

"But, I want your input you're on the team." said Harry, trying to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"Why don't you leave your personal feelings out of it then?" asked Ron. "If he's the best for the position then why not use him?"

Katie stared strangely at Ron, while Hermione's glares had become more and more frequent. Harry shook his head, "The fact is, Ron, this is a team and McLaggan doesn't know how to play as a team. All personal thoughts of him aside, he's a good player but a horrible team player."

"Can't have it all." grumbled Ron.

"But team playing is more important than skill." Harry pointed out. Ron looked sharply at him. "If you can't work with your team to make it flow smoothly then you might as well suck to begin with."

Ron rolled his eyes, "Whatever." Katie looked to Harry and Hermione in confusion; she of course had never seen Ron act like that. "I'm going for a shower." murmured Ron walking off. "It's your decision Harry, not mine." With that Ron took off, leaving Harry, Hermione, and Katie to stare after him.

"What's going on with him?" asked Katie, looking to Harry and Hermione. "I've never seen him act so -"

"Strange." remarked Harry, looking away.

Hermione wrapped her arm around Harry's waist, and hugged him gently. "Ron is just being a petty prat."

"What has him so upset?"

"He just can't take the fact that I'm seeing someone he doesn't like."

Katie blinked, "Who?" she asked her curiosity peaked.

Harry smiled slyly, "No one." He winked at her, and then said his good-byes, and walked with Hermione leaving the seventh year stunned.

"WHO!?" squealed the young girl, as Harry waved his hand over his head innocently.

"Do you think it was wise to tell her that?" asked Hermione, as they wound through the halls together.

Harry shrugged, "Doesn't matter, everyone'll find out eventually."

"True." said Hermione frowning, "I'm sorry about Ron, Harry."

Harry shrugged a shoulder, "What can I do about it? For once in my life I am really happy, I'm not changing that for anyone. They don't have to live my life I do."

Hermione smiled and kissed him on the cheek and hugged him tightly, until he squeaked. She giggled, as he gave her an amused look, "Oh Harry! I'm behind you no matter what." "I'd rather you beside me."

"Same difference." said Hermione amusement shining in her eyes.

Harry smirked, and headed for the moving staircase, "You sure I don't stink?"

"Yes you stink, but it's worth it." teased Hermione, brushing the boy's hair out of his eyes.

"Ulgh, I don't want to go to Gryffindor."

"Want me to get your bag from the tower and then you can go to the Prefect bathroom?" suggested Hermione, "What do you want to wear?"

"Uhm, I have the clothes I was going to wear laid on top of the trunk, there's a belt over top of it."

"Okay." She kissed his cheek and then said the password before stalking through.

Harry stifled a yawn and leaned against the wall, and scratched his dirty face. He was much too tired to think about Ron and his strange personality toward him. He knew it was because of Lucius, but he couldn't get himself to be too concerned. If Ron wanted to act petty than it was just too bad for him, cause Harry would not relent. Especially, when it was his life and not Ron. He would just have to deal with it.

Hermione came back out with a bag, "Boy, Seamus doesn't know when to shut up does he?" asked the brunette rolling her eyes, "What are you doing Hermione? Does Harry know you're getting his things? Hermione, Are you sure you're allowed to do that? Shouldn't Ron get his things?" The girl shook her head, "What an idiot!"

Harry laughed and took his bag, "Thanks hun, sorry about him."

"S'alright, he's still burnt because I turned him down last year."

"Of course he is; you're waiting for me." He teased.

Hermione giggled, and hugged him, "Go get a shower. Let me deal with Ron."

"Kicking his arse?"

"Something the nature." said Hermione, sighing and shaking her head.

"See you, Hermione."

"Bye Harry!!" She waved and ran back through the portrait.

Harry passed by several kids who waved to him. A few guys and girl's called out to him, trying to call him over, but he pretended to not even pay attention. He really hoped the Prefect Bathroom was unoccupied. As he turned to go down a set of spiral staircases he nearly ran into Lucius.

"Fancy seeing you heading this way." began Lucius with a smirk, and he arched an eyebrow as he raked his eyes over Harry.

The teen laughed and looked down at himself, "Yeah, I'm a mess. I was going to the prefect bathroom, hoping it was unoccupied."

"I believe I saw McLaggan going in-" Lucius informed.

"Argh." scowled Harry, with disgust. "Nevermind, I'll take my chances with Ron-"

"You look as though you've been run over by a hippogriff."

Harry laughed, "Does two bludgers and a bunch of maniacal kids who can't fly count?"

"Most certainly." said Lucius, "Come, you can use my bathroom."

"But, weren't you heading off somewhere?"

"No, I was looking for you, actually. Going to give you a few detentions for no reason." said Lucius, a smile playing on his features.

Harry smiled and glanced over his shoulder, "Well, I accept your detentions, Professor." said Harry bowing, "For stinking so bad."

"Hmm, good reason." Lucius agreed, leading the way down the staircase toward the fourth floor.

Harry followed and tried to wipe the smile off his face. He really shouldn't smile around Lucius when he was in the public eye of Hogwart's students.

Harry entered the office first, as Lucius casually walked in behind him. His arm then snaked around the teen drawing him in for long kiss that had been overdue. Harry's hand touched Lucius' on the cheek and brushed wanton lips against him.

"You desperately, need a shower." growled Lucius in a teasing manner.

Harry sniggered, "Your fault for grabbing me-"

"Hmm, maybe so." Lucius kissed him hard once again.

"You could have stayed away from me-"

"Not a chance." Harry laughed softly against Lucius' mouth for such a remark.

It took some persuasion for Harry to convince himself that he wanted to shower. He was filthy but he wanted to stay in the clutches of Lucius for as long as he could. They'd made it to the hallway and they were still in a tight embrace, Harry practically off the floor as Lucius drowned him with such sensuous kisses.

Smiling, Harry finally took off to the shower aware of the massive arousal threatening to take over his body. He closed the door gently and huffed a deep breath; his cheeks were just as red as they had been while playing Quidditch. He was smiling stupidly to himself, and placed his bag on the dark green marble counter top that was next to the sink. He turned the taps on to the shower and almost yelped when the cold sprayed out onto his hand. If there was one thing he hated, it was cold water. He loved super hot water that burned against his skin.

He stripped himself down and then slid into the shower that was now so hot the steam was beginning to accumulate.

Twenty minutes and he was out of the shower; he used his wand to make the steam disappear so he could see to get dressed. He slipped into a pair of black jean-like trousers that were snug against his lower mid-section and loosened going down the legs. The shirt he had was grey with slashes of black. It was short sleeved and he slipped a new earring in his ear, a silver and black spider. He dried his hair and then added his belt which was silver with onyx coloured gemstones going all the way around. He stuffed his scarlet robes into the bag.

A few more moments later he walked out of the bathroom, down the small hallway and back into the living room corridors. Lucius was at the kitchen table and there was food piled on it.

Lucius arched an eyebrow, "Harry is back." He said, with a smirk as he looked the boy up and down with a look of approval.

Harry laughed, "Yeah, smell better too."

"Hmm," The older man curled his fingers around the boy's wrist and pulled him closer, "I'll be the judge of that."

Harry grinned and swung his leg over the other side of the chair straddling Lucius comfortably, as more kisses were pressed in against his auspicious lips.

"Smell good and you taste good."

Harry's smile never left his face, as he pulled back slightly from Lucius running his hands up the man's chest and feeling along his shoulders, which was something Harry, got a joy out of touching. He was so - strong around the shoulders.

"I figured you would be hungry after your three hour practice…"

"How did you know it was three hours?"

"I watched you most of the time, from the Astronomy Tower."

Harry beamed, "Did you? Does our team look promising?"

"Who have you chosen?" asked Lucius.

Harry's smile faltered, "We've got the chasers picked out - but the beaters." He winced, "I could hit better than them." He reached his hand around and grabbed a sandwich and remained on Lucius lap, facing the man.

Lucius simply smiled as his hands held Harry's hips. "Can you do beater?"

Harry shook his head, and swallowed the bite of sandwich, "I don't have the arm for it. One of the Chaser's is Ginny and it goes without warning that she's damn good. The other is a small little girl in fourth year, and she's fast as hell even if she is scared of the bludgers."

"Beaters?"

Harry grumbled, "Probably McLaggan, what choice do I have if the others like hitting themselves instead of the bludger?"

Lucius snorted, "Why are you so against McLaggan?"

"He's not a team player. He's nothing but a little bastard - well big bastard." He corrected remember the weight and height of the seventh year. "But, that's beside the point, not only does he enjoy hitting things - me for instance-" Lucius frowned when he said that. "He also enjoys trying to persuade Hermione to go off with him and when she says get lost; he says something along the lines of, 'as long as I can get lost inside of you.'" Harry's eyes had narrowed at the recollection, "The Weasley twins had to hold me and Ron back last year for that remark… my accidental magic got him, sent him flying off the field." Lucius looked a little on edge when Harry told him about getting hit. Harry shrugged, and finished his sandwich and reached over for some pumpkin juice.

Lucius held his waist so he did not go falling backwards, he hadn't spoken much the entire time, he'd just been listening to Harry tell him a little about a life he'd missed out on due to his own prejudices.

"This Hermione Granger means a lot to you doesn't she?" asked Lucius, finally.

Harry smiled at him when he asked this, "Yes, she most certainly does. She's always been able to look past my scar and just see me for who I am; even Ron doesn't do that. He lets my past get in the way a lot." He took a sip of his pumpkin juice, "She's a very fierce friend." He explained, and talked about his friend Hermione for about ten minutes before blushing and stopping himself. "Sorry, told you more than you needed or wanted to know."

Lucius smirked, "I asked and you answered. You told me what you wanted."

That evening, Harry was on the sofa leaning into Lucius while the man composed more letters. Was that all he did? He wondered seeing Ministry seals on every one of them. He didn't ask, it sounded boring. Harry was finishing his Transfiguration and moving onto his potions and making a face.

"Fancy telling me what Professor Snape wants to hear?" asked Harry, staring dumbly at the assignment.

Lucius glanced over at the paper; he dropped his letter on his lap and picked up the potion essay. "You've put way too much information in this."

"I thought so..." Harry winced, "I didn't inherit my mum's talent for potions."

Lucius smirked, "It's not exactly an inheritance Harry. Personally, it's Severus' fault for not teaching you properly in the first place." Harry blinked, staring surprised at Lucius, for even saying it. "I'm being honest; he did not teach you right. In fact, had it not been for your own talents in Defence, I would not have taught you properly."

"You taught me just fine, an arse you were, but Defence is not as complex as a potion."

"True, tell me were you learning magic before you were eleven?" inquired Lucius, as he took Harry's quill and scribbled on top of the essay. He put a line through the stuff that didn't need to be used and circled the bits that were to be used.

Harry laughed, "Yeah, Remus taught me how to wield a wand pretty well. My mum even taught me some spells; dad and Sirius mostly taught me joke spells."

"No wonder you were able to keep my son under a tickling charm for two hours…"

Harry began to laugh, his head raised up and he was practically giggled, "Three hours, Lucius!"

"Three?" asked Lucius, cross between horrified and amused.

Harry sniggered, "Yeah, for the first hour, he walked around giggling- remember?"

Lucius snorted, "I thought he just - had too much sugar-"

The teen was now giggling he was laughing so much, after a moment of straightening he said, "Nope, the spell was timed it would gradually get worse."

"You tortured my son for hours-" said Lucius, "We had no idea how to get the spell off…"

Harry choked, "He deserved it! I'm not going to say I'm sorry when it's a false apology, cause I'm not sorry for getting him back for beginning the whole issue."

"What was it over?"

"Hermione." stated Harry, simply.

"Ah," Lucius knew exactly what Harry meant when he said her name, "I believe that blame falls on me and the company I kept when he was very small and impressionable."

Harry smiled gently, "Not many people are man enough to admit their wrongs."

Lucius gave him a small smile, "I have been taught, Harry to own up to what I've done and I believe after years of frustrated wrong doings, I might be doing something right."

He brushed his fingers along Harry's cheek; he leaned in and kissed him tenderly. The teen in question pushed the book he had aside and moved Lucius' stuff and nimbly slid across the man until he was sitting in his lap once again. His hands moved heedlessly across Lucius' chest feeling what he could. A desperate air of desire washed across Harry's body and coursed effervescently through his veins. He opened his mouth to Lucius accepting his taste and flavour that mixed with his own. Lucius held him tight, taking control of the kiss and urging his tongue forward to crush against Harry's and fight him in a battle of never-ending pleasure. Harry allowed a licentious whimper escape his passionately bruised lips.

Harry's body was feeling strong affects from the taste of his amorous kisses. They were affects that he had never felt before and he was beginning to understand the difference between what was real and what was just lust. His whole body was pulled toward Lucius, and the days that had passed Harry had the strongest feeling of not wanting to leave Lucius' side and he found himself always wanting to touch him, to make sure that it was all real and not just a dream.

Lucius pulled back just a few inches, "Stay with me tonight." His voice was low and husky.

Harry gave a soft smile and kissed him delicately, "I would love too." he said, touching the man's cheek, and brushing his finger's lightly through his pale blond hair.

Harry used Lucius' owl to send a letter to Hermione to get him some more clothes from his trunk along with his map and invisibility cloak. She knocked at the office door ten minutes later. You could hear it in the living corridors.

Harry looked to Lucius, who nodded, "You can invite her in, if you like." Harry beamed when Lucius said this and jumped up quickly, throwing his potions aside and racing out of the portrait and through the office.

He opened it and smiled when he saw Hermione standing there with a shy look on her face, she also had a bag on her arm. "Harry!" she said, her eyes glittering. He smiled and drug her into the room and closed it. She laughed, and looked up at him, "I have your stuff. Ron wasn't up there, and neither was Seamus or Dean. I think they went off somewhere."

"Awe! Are you left alone?" asked Harry, feeling bad.

"No, no!" said Hermione, her eyes glittering. "No, I'm not. I've been reading the whole time."

"Come on, Lucius said you could come in with me."

"Oh!" Hermione giggled hesitantly and looked around, "Wow, I've never been in Professor Malfoy's office before." Her eyes searched the area. "Much more tasteful than Professor Snapes."

"Agreed." said Harry, "Coming in with me?"

"Sure!" said Hermione, as Harry guided her to the portrait, "Coiled Serpent." The portrait swung open immediately, admitting the two into the small hallway. It was evident that his best friend was a tad bit nervous about going into a teacher's corridors. He gripped the door handle, when Hermione whispered, "Sure he won't mind?"

"He said it was alright." He reassured, as he opened the door and they stepped through.

Hermione's eyes could not stop roaming over the living corridors with much interest. "Oh, cool. I always wondered where they stayed."

"Good evening, Miss Granger." said from afar.

Hermione blinked and stared over at Lucius, who was on the sofa and without the cloak of his robes. He was sitting casually with a parchment notebook resting on the arm of the sofa. "Professor." said Hermione, quietly. Harry guided her through the room over, "Oh! Here are your things Harry." She said, a bit more confidence growing in her.

"No trouble this time?" asked Harry.

"Nope, like I said, Seamus and the others were out of the room. I didn't have to be sneaky about your map and cloak."

Harry laughed and placed the bag to the side of the coffee table. Lucius closed his parchment book and gave Harry a smile, "I am going to go and speak with Severus about a few things. Miss Granger make yourself comfortable." He nodded appropriately to her, before giving Harry a swift kiss and casually walking out.

Hermione laughed weakly, "Boy, wasn't that - relaxed."

"Oh, its okay, Hermione. Sit!" said Harry, sinking down in Lucius' old place and pulling his best friend down with him.

She sat and bit her lip, "Nice rooms." her hands were pressed against her knees. "Teachers have it made."

Harry laughed and drew his legs up under him in Indian style and shifted to face Hermione. "Loosen up, he's not that cold."

Hermione looked over at him assessing his body language and realized that his shoulder's are relaxed and he had a lazy like smile on his face, "I can see that you two are quite close. That's kind of fast within a week and a half."

Harry bit his lip, "I know." He said, licking his lips, "It is fast… but I don't feel stiff here or as if I can't be myself."

Hermione smiled, "I never said it was." she pushed his bangs away from his eyes; she hardly took notice of the scar that people had a habit of looking at for hours at a time. "I like the fact that you're back to your old self…" She trailed off as if she wanted to say something else.

"Go on, Hermione, say it." said Harry. "There's nothing you should keep from me." Both of them were unaware of Lucius coming back through the room.

Hermione smiled, and shifted to face Harry, "Honestly? When you were with Roger Davies, you weren't yourself. You weren't as affectionate and you just - weren't the Harry James I met… he changed a lot of you during that period. I think Ron liked that change in you-" she winced as she said this. "But, I didn't. I never said anything, cause I do not like to get in the way of relationships, like what Ron's doing-" she rolled her eyes at the thought. "Anyway, you don't act like that anymore."

Harry smiled, "I know I didn't act like myself. But, Hermione?" she looked up at him, trying not to be sheepish. "I value your advice and opinion above all others. Ron is just being stupid, he's not logically thinking."

Hermione smiled small, "He's also thinking more about himself…"

"And you don't."

"No, I don't." she confirmed. "You're my best friend and nothing gets in the way of that Harry." She leaned up and hugged him around the neck.

"I'm glad you said that, Hermione." said Harry, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "It means a lot."

"I know."

Quickly and quietly, Lucius slipped back out of the room, his mind travelling over to the teenager sitting in his room. It seemed that every single day that passed, Lucius would learn something new about the Gryffindor. Something, he had not expected to learn. Usually, people were quite predictable in the sense of being able to read their personalities. But, Harry's personality was one arcane to him. He'd never met someone as fierce in loyalty as he was in friendship.

Lucius could only allow himself a smile, times were changing, things were changing, and Lucius he was beginning to wind around a green-eyed Saviour's finger.