Disclaimer: Not mine... sadly!

Author's Note: Here you go, the next chapter. It didn't take that long, did it? Anyway, I have internet, but it's rather expensive at the moment, so excuse me that I haven't answered your reviews yet. I really appreciate them.

The chapter title is the title of a novel by Friedrich Schiller, a German writer and poet. Translated it means as much as "Intrigue and Love" and though you most likely don't know the novel and therefore can't judge it for yourself, I think it fits this chapter perfectly, although Schiller would probably be quite appalled (I think I heard him turning in his grave). The novel is about a young noble who falls madly in love with the daughter of a musician. The parents are against that relationship and start scheming. The noble is made to believe that his love is cheating on him and so he decides to poison her. He finds out that she has been faithful to him and commits suicide... I don't think that convinced you, but I'm the author and I can call my chapter how ever I please! No offence to Schiller or his novel intended...

Warnings: There will be some lime (I think) at the end of the chapter, but it's nothing to graphic and I just wanted to warn you so that you don't blindly stumble over it and choke on your lemonade...

Beta: Silver Lady, thank you!

21. KABALE UND LIEBE

Music blared through the common room and if it weren't for the silcening charms it would have also blared through the whole castle. Harry had long since given up on identifying what kind of music it was. He had also given up on enjoying this party. His head hurt, his eyes and ears hurt even more, more than five people had tried to spike his drink with something far less innocent than mere alcohol, Lucius was accepting presents, dancing or talking with someone, and he hadn't felt so helpless in a long time.

He had no idea where everyone was. Sometimes he could hear James' smooth baritone telling a joke, followed by Sirius' bark-like laughter, but it was never enough to really locate them. Draco had left him too sometime earlier and he wasn't sure if he really wanted to know what he was up to, though he longed for nothing more than for him to come and take him away to somewhere where it was quiet and peaceful. But Draco wasn't there for once and he felt bad for being so selfish and wanting him to drop everything and come to his rescue. It's wasn't fair, he knew that, but he couldn't help it.

Harry was sitting in a corner, half hidden behind a sofa and the mantle of the fireplace, his knees drawn to his chest and his head buried against them. He had tried earlier to escape this party, but had been pushed from all sides and with all this noise his sense of direction was failing him. He felt miserable and if he didn't have to fear that he would seriously hurt someone he would have unleashed his magic or at least fired some spells off into the crowd. But he had once promised himself that he would never use his magic when he wasn't sure that he could control it. Of course, he wasn't particularly good at keeping that promise, considering his fake duel with Draco and his subsequent loss of control, but right now he still had enough control to avoid a repetition of that incident.

Nightmare had left as soon as she had discovered that there would be a party, when Harry had still thought that it might be amusing or at least bearable. Everything would be a lot better if Lucius paid at least a little attention to him, oh, and he had, in the beginning, but then about an hour or so ago he had become engrossed in a conversation with Avery and Harry thought it safe if he got himself something to drink and found one of his friends. The only problem was that for him it was impossible to find someone and now, after the unsuccessful attempt of flight, he was sitting here, trying to remember the twelve uses of dragon blood in order to distract himself from his growing feeling of panic.

"Hey Harry, there you are!" Lucius' voice suddenly appeared over the music and a tentative hand landed on his shoulder, rubbing slightly. "Aren't you feeling well? Why are you hiding here?"

Harry didn't react, only rocked back and fro a little harder and faster.

"Featherweight, come on, talk to me," Draco squeezed past Lucius and crouched down in front of Harry. "I'm here now, relax."

"It's so loud," Harry wailed. "Make it stop, please, make it stop!"

"Okay, Harry," Draco said, "I'm going to get you out of here."

He scooped down to lift Harry into his arms, but Lucius stopped him and instead picked Harry up himself, tucking his head under his chin as he got up and carried him to their dormitory, erecting a silencing barrier around the room after he had kicked the couple that had occupied Rudolphus' bed out. Lucius gently sat down with Harry in his lap and drew small circles on his back with his hand, pressing soft kisses to his forehead and his temples.

"I was so worried when I couldn't find you, Harry," he murmured softly. "I've been looking for you through the entire castle. You should have told me that you weren't comfortable."

"I didn't want to spoil your fun," Harry whispered. "I couldn't find my way out of the common room."

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there, Harry," Draco carefully grasped his hand and intertwined their fingers. "I should have known that this was too much for you."

"Not your fault," Harry mumbled. "Haven't felt so...blind in a long time, is all. I thought I would be fine."

"Can I get you something?" Lucius asked with concern.

"You should get back to your party, Luc," the black-haired boy sighed. "You were enjoying yourself, weren't you?"

"How could I enjoy myself without you?" Lucius asked back, slowly shaking his head. "I don't care about this party, I care about you, Harry."

Harry gave him a shy smile, followed by a sweet kiss. "Thank you."

"Would you like to stay here while I tell them that the party is over?" Lucius offered. "You could help me with my Braille if you want to."

"I rather thought I could give you your present," Harry blushed lightly as if sensing Lucius' raised eyebrow.

"I told you that you didn't have to give me anything."

"But I want to, and I think you will like it," Harry cocked his head slightly. "I'll give it to you later. In private."

"I see where I'm not wanted," Draco sneered, letting go of Harry's hand.

"Dray,...I didn't mean it like that," Harry protested, trying to reach for him.

"Then how did you mean it?" Draco asked in annoyance. "I have no desire to watch you two while you exchange presents...I'll put an end to this party for you. Have fun."

He didn't wait to hear anymore of Harry's attempts at meditation or appeasement. It wouldn't make him feel any better, the opposite actually, because the knowledge of Harry's misery would be added to his own and he was confused enough as it was. His life had gotten so much more complicated since they had gone to the past, which, he reminded himself, he should have expected. People were not supposed to mess around with time and, if they did, they should be prepared to take the consequences. He just hadn't expected the consequences to entail his own father snatching Harry away right from under his nose. His hands clenched into fists as he gritted his teeth and he felt like punching something or rather someone- like Lucius. Merlin knew what he was doing with Harry right now. Maybe he should have told Harry about the bet, it would have resolved everything. Sure, it would have hurt Harry, but that stupid bet would hurt him eventually anyway. Maybe it would have been better if he just got it over with. But he didn't and wouldn't. Not yet. Maybe he was hoping that Lucius would tell Harry himself, but all in all he knew that he just didn't want to be the one who told Harry. He didn't want to be the one to break Harry's already fragile heart. It was probably childish and petty to fear that Harry would see him differently if he was the one to tell him about the bet, but he couldn't help it.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of those redundant thoughts that got him nowhere. He wouldn't tell Harry and would futilely cling to the hope that Lucius would come clean on his own accord and if he didn't, well, then he would think of something. Not the best plan, he knew that, but it would just have to work. Right now he had other problems. Like his father getting down and dirty with his Harry, though of course if he really was his Harry he wouldn't have this problem. Damnit all!

He surveyed the common room and all the dancing and partying people. It had been a good party, he couldn't deny that, he had enjoyed himself, even if he now regretted his inattentiveness to Harry, but he had to end this party and then separate Lucius and Harry.

Suddenly, as he spotted the four Marauders, he got an idea. Surely, Harry would like to spend time with his friends? Lucius would surely like to celebrate his birthday a bit longer, right? And what better way than a round of spin the bottle or truth or dare? His eyes swept over the Marauders and landed on another group, a plan forming in his mind.

It didn't take him long to convince them to participate and even less time to send everyone else away, though it earned him some displeased looks and surpressed curses, especially from Avery and Flint, who he quite rudely informed that they would have to find somewhere else to spend the night. He even managed to get rid of Wormtail, knowing that Harry would never relax while the rat animagus was around. Quite satisfied with the progress he had made from self-doubts and misery to his plan set in motion, he quickly collected some crisps and drinks and followed everyone to the seventh year dormitories.

Harry looked confused and Draco thought it was endearing and adorable, but then he became aware of Lucius scowling at him and he allowed himself a slow smirk, before he plopped down next to Harry.

"I thought it would be good to take your mind of things before you go to sleep," he explained with a small smile. "I don't want this day to end on a bad note for you. You have enough nightmares as it is."

"I guess," Harry murmured. "So what are we going to do?"

"Spin the bottle," James exclaimed, winking at Lily, who sat next to him.

"No, truth or dare!" Sirius argued, a mischievious look in his eyes.

"Why am I here again?" the older Severus spoke up, already having felt out of place when he had been chaperoning the party. "I have no desire to play either of those childish games and I don't see what you need me for if you can bother my younger self."

"How nice", the younger Severus retorted and the older version scowled at him.

"Stop complaining, Uncle Sev," Draco reprimanded him. "Your potions will still be there in two hours."

"That still doesn't mean that I want to spend my evening with a lot of teenagers who try to impress each other in hopes of being able to relieve their raging hormones and get in each others' pants, Draco," Severus sneered, pointedly stressing the blond's name.

Draco rolled his eyes, but didn't deign him an answer and just rolled an empty bottle into the middle of the cycle they had formed.

"Youngest begins," he declared, "That means you, Harry."

"Rabastan is younger than I am," Harry protested, "and we still haven't agreed on what game to play. I don't feel like just randomly kissing people, half of which are related to me, adopted me or plan to adopt me."

"Truth or dare, it is then," Sirius triumphed. "I'll start."

Before anyone could protest, and James looked like he wanted to, he spun the bottle, tapping his fingers impatiently while it went around and around and finally landed on Remus, who looked mildly apprehensive.

"So, truth or dare?" Sirius grinned mischieviously, making Remus feel rather nervous.

"Dare?" he answered, though it sounded more like a question.

"Okay, let me think. How about a little striptease?" the black-haired Gryffindor offered with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Certainly not," Remus argued vehemently, shaking his head. "You can forget about that right now."

Sirius pouted a little. "Truth then. How long have you have the hots for me, Remy?"

"I love you, Sirius," the werewolf ground out. "I don't have the hots for you."

"How long have you loved me then?" Sirius rolled his eyes, though he couldn't fight the faint blush that tainted his cheeks.

"You know that one night, after Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup in our third year?" Remus answered softly and Sirius nodded. "You were kind of drunk and I got you up to bed. That's when I realised it. You wouldn't let me go and I just thought that if I could hold onto you, I would be happy...Okay, my turn."

He reached for the bottle and gave it a gentle nudge so that its top pointed at the Potion's Master, who groaned and didn't wait for the Remus' question before he spat. "Truth, and I would really advise you not to ask an embarrassing question."

"Who do you like the least of the people in this room?" Remus asked after a bit of hesitation and the pitch black eyes swept of the group of students.

"Right now, Draco, because he dragged me into this. In general, Black," Severus sneered.

"Ha, I won again," Sirius exclaimed, sticking his tongue out at James, who pouted.

"That's so unfair. I deserve that dislike."

"It's stupid to hate someone who's dead, but if it helps, you come a close second in this time," Severus snapped, flicking his wand at the bottle, which spun and landed on Rudolphus. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," the brown-haired boy answered.

"Kiss someone of your choice," the older Severus didn't sound very motivated as he said this, but there was a certain gleam in his eyes as he watched the older Lestrange.

Rudolphus' eyes finally landed on the younger Severus and he slowly crawled over to him and lifted himself up a little so that he was at face level with the other youth and then deliberately leaned forward, his hands coming up to cup Severus' head. His tongue gently prodded at the other's mouth and the black-eyed Slytherin's lips parted a little, his own tongue snaking out to meet Rudolphus', who pressed a bit closer. They both moaned into the kiss as their tongues battled for dominance, though none of them was willing to give in and they finally had to separate for air.

The brown-haired Slytherin moved back to his previous seat with a satisfied smile on his face, making eye contact with the younger Severus while the bottle spun around and around. It finally landed on Lucius.

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Lucius answered with a quick look at Harry, who was leaning against him.

"Well, since Lupin refused, I think you should do the striptease," Rudolphus grinned at him.

"That's unfair," Harry pouted, "This game is boring enough as it is. I won't see anything and I think that if anyone has a right to see Luc do a striptease it should be me. Besides, that was Sirius' dare so you should think of something else."

Lucius chuckled at that, kissing Harry's nose. "I'm glad you think so."

"Okay," Rudolphus looked pensive for a moment. "I want you to wear all your clothes inside out, for the rest of this game."

Lucius scowled at him, but after a quick look at Harry's smiling face, he got up and went into the bathroom to change.

"Don't forget the underwear," Sirius called after him and Harry burst out laughing, leaning against Draco, who put an arm around his quivering shoulders and summoned his camera from his trunk.

As soon as Lucius returned from the bathroom he snapped a photo, answering the older blond's glare with a cheeky grin. "Blackmail. Never know when I might need it."

"I'm sure I have baby photos of you," Lucius bit back. "Give me that photo."

"Oh, but you don't have them now, do you?", Draco smirked at him, lazily fanning the photo. "I think I'll keep it for a while. Besides, I was a really good looking baby. I have nothing to be ashamed of."

The older Severus snorted and all eyes turned to him, which made him roll his eyes. "What is it now? All babies do embarrassing things, that's as simple as making a sleeping draught."

"Can I have that photo, Dray?" Harry asked with a small pout. "I'd love to see Luc with his clothes on inside out."

"Sure, featherweight," Draco sighed and handed the picture over to him. "There goes my blackmail."

"You can make a copy," Harry offered, squeaking as Lucius pulled him back into his own side, kissing him roughly.

"No copies," he growled.

"Or else?" Harry questioned, still grinning.

"No copies and I will kiss you like that more often."

"Oh, and I suppose that's such a huge sacrifice on your part," Harry rolled his eyes, "spin the bottle, sweetheart, and I'll think about the copy issue."

Lucius obeyed, though he scowled at Harry's new pet name for him, and the bottle landed on Rabastan, who answered the question whether he had ever had a crush on a teacher with a simple no and then spun the bottle which landed back on Lucius.

"Just ask me a question, Rabastan," Lucius sighed, not wanting to risk to be separated from Harry again.

"What's the longest you've gone without sex, save your childhood of course?" Rabastan asked, looking truly interested.

"Five, maybe six weeks," Lucius shrugged, turning back to littering small kisses over Harry's face.

"But that's about as long..." Harry started. "Oh, you were talking about now, weren't you? You didn't have sex because of me?"

"Yes, but I don't mind," Lucius assured him.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise," the blond admonished him. "I'm having a very good time with you."

"Then...thank you", Harry smiled shyly up at him. "You know I appreciate it."

"I know, don't worry about it," he reached for the bottle again and gave it a small push, following the movement of the bottle until it stopped at James. "Truth or dare?"

"Well, since dare isn't really an option, if we don't want to bore Harry to death, how about we just stick to truths?" James suggested.

"No," Harry protested. "I don't want to ruin this game for you..."

"Don't worry about it, kiddo," Sirius laughed at him. "We all drank enough so that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to dare each other, anyway."

"But there are some questions we can't answer," Draco stated, his tone brooking no argument, "and some I'm sure not everyone wants to answer, so what about that?"

"Well, that's easy enough, isn't it?" Sirius arched an eyebrow. "If someone doesn't want to answer a question he or she," he inclined his head to Lily, who huffed in annoyance, "has to kiss someone."

"And you don't suppose that certain people," Draco briefly glared at his father before pointedly staring at James' and Lily's clasped hands, "would like nothing better than to have a reason to ravish each other? I don't think we'll get many answers that way."

"I'm sure you would be all for it if you had someone," James glowered at him.

"And I'm sure that if Lily allowed you to kiss her more often you wouldn't be so desperate for that opportunity," Draco retorted sharply.

"Would you please stop it?" Harry exclaimed, putting his hands over his ears.

"Sorry, Harry," Draco sighed, pulling one of his pale hands away so that he could hear him. "Maybe we should just call it a night, yes?"

"I won't leave you alone," Harry declared, reaching out to him. "I know that something is bothering you and I wish you would tell me, but since you won't..." he shrugged helplessly. "I'm trying so hard to understand you, Dray, and I'm worried...I'm still your friend, right?"

"Of course, my best friend," Draco returned gently. "That will never change, I promise."

"Then why won't you tell me?!" the black-haired boy all but pleaded. "Please, I'm confused and afraid...I can't lose you, Dray, please?"

Draco sighed, throwing a furtive glance at the others, who had decided to play "I never..." somewhere during the conversation and were busy downing drinks. "Harry, you will never lose me. Never, do you understand? I won't allow that."

"You won't tell me, will you?" Harry sighed and Draco chuckled softly, kissing Harry's fingertips.

"You know me too well."

"Apparently not well enough," the blind boy returned sadly. "Do you expect me to figure it out myself?"

"I'd be disappointed in myself if you did," Draco smirked. "Don't worry, featherweight. I'm okay."

"Liar!" Harry accused him quietly, before hugging him tightly, pulling himself closer to the other time traveller and burying his head in his chest. "I don't like to see you hurting."

"Well, you are lucky that you're blind then," Draco teased him and was promptly hit over the head.

"You are such an insensitive idiot," Harry told him earnestly and Draco felt like kissing him; instead he took a huge gulp of whatever was in his glass, affirming the question if he ever dated two people at once.

"Are you quite finished with your little conversation?" the older Severus sneered and Harry blushed faintly, moving back into his own place between Draco and Lucius, snuggling into the older blond, who put a possessive arm around his shoulders.

They played several rounds of "I never..." and when finally the declarations became so absurd or general that the game somehow lost its charm, they went back to playing truth or dare. By then, alone the posing of a dare sent Harry into a fit of giggles, which had both to do with the alcohol in his blood and with the hilarity of the dares.

Questions went back and forth until well after midnight and several more drinks were downed, James trying to find out what Lily liked and if he was among those things, Sirius trying to make Remus say that he loved him more than once, Remus trying to meditate between the Gryffindors and Slytherins whenever things threatened to escalate and to not fall prey to Sirius' charm, Rabastan trying to help his brother with his crush and trying to hide his grin at all the secretive glances, blushes and careful touches, Rudolphus and the younger Severus trying to be not too obvious in how much they liked each other, the older Severus and Harry trying to convince Draco to spill his secrets, Draco trying to make Lucius reveal the bet while at the same time trying to show Harry that Lucius was not the right one for him, Lucius trying to find out more about Harry and find reasons to kiss him. All had moderate success with achieving their individual aims, but when the last question had finally been asked, everyone, save for the Potion's Master, was rather inebriated or at least a bit tipsy, thanks to the unknown mixture they had been drinking.

"Do you still want me to give you your present?" Harry purred into Lucius' ear, who nodded eagerly and led the way to his Head Boy rooms, having to support Harry's slender form since he wasn't exactly stable on his feet.

"So, what did you get me?" he asked eagerly, after they had both landed safely on his bed, Harry sitting between his legs.

"Here," Harry extracted a wrapped package from his robes and handed it over to the blond boy, suddenly looking uncertain as he listened to the soft rustle of Lucius unwrapping it.

"What's this? Chocolate sauce? Erm, Harry, that's very...thoughtful," Lucius stared down at the plastic bottle, trying to make sense of it. "I'm afraid I missed the innuendo, could you explain it to me?"

Instead of an answer Harry took the bottle from Lucius and dribbled some of the liquid chocolate onto Lucius' hand. He then brushed his hair out of his face and gently took the chocolate covered hand between his own smaller ones, before timidly flicking out his tongue and tasting some of the chocolate. Nibbling, suckling and licking, he cleaned the whole hand, emitting surpressed groans and moans from the silver-eyed Head Boy.

"That's the general idea," Harry smiled, having heard the sounds coming from Lucius, his voice a little slurred. "Happy Birthday, Luc."

"I think I like my present," Lucius grinned down at him. "So, what is going to happen to the rest of the chocolate sauce?"

"You can put it anywhere you want, just not...you know, down there. And I want you to keep your underwear on..." Lucius silenced him with a kiss.

"That is more than enough for me," he assured him, caressing his cheek. "Why don't you get comfortable while I think of where to put this, hm?"

"Okay," Harry nodded and summoned his pyjamas before he disappeared into the bathroom to get changed.

When he returned, Lucius had gotten rid of his shirt, tied his hair behind his head and laid out on the bed, his fingers sliding through the chocolate on his stomach, spreading it even more. "Come here, Harry."

The black-haired boy only hesitated a moment before he timidly crawled onto the bed, reaching out for the blond, who carefully pulled him closer, until Harry sat astride his hips. The younger boy leaned forward, his tongue darting out to moisten his lips before he gently pressed them to Lucius' collarbone, tasting the smear of chocolate there before letting his lips wander over to Lucius' nipple, latching onto it and startling a deep groan from the blond.

"Yummy! I love chocolate," Harry suddenly giggled after he had cleaned half of Lucius' chest, licking his own fingers, wriggling to get more comfortable and unintentionally rubbing against the older boy's erection.

"Harry...," Lucius moaned, drawing out his name and his hips jerking up to get more friction. "Harry..."

Harry giggled again, before making a long swipe over the silver-eyed boy's chest, dipping his tongue into Lucius' belly button where some of the chocolate sauce had gathered.

"All cleaned up again," Harry declared proudly and Lucius chuckled.

"I'm clean again, but you on the other hand..." he rubbed over the hem of Harry's pyjama that were stained with chocolate, noting all the brown spatters on the soft cotton and the dab on the tip of his nose.

"Oh," Harry cocked his head to the side, scrunching up his nose in confusion.

"Yes, oh, Harry. I think you need to get changed before you can sleep," Lucius told him. "Or do you want me to do a cleaning charm?"

"No, no cleaning charm," Harry shook his head, trying to slip out of his pyjama top, but instead losing his balance and falling off the bed.

"Harry," Lucius exclaimed in shock, realising that perhaps Harry was drunker than he had first thought as Harry started to laugh uncontrollably. "I think you really should sleep now."

"Noooo," Harry whined, latching onto him. "Don't want to go to bed, I'm not tired. Mmh, you smell so good..."

"Okay, I guess that clears up which kind of drunk you are," Lucius sighed, mildly amused.

"I'm not drunk," Harry protested, swaying slightly as the blond helped him up.

"No, not at all," Lucius chuckled. "Come on, let's get you into bed so that you can sleep it off, though of course you are neither drunk nor tired."

"Don't mock me," Harry pouted, playing with the blond's hair. "How come you're not drunk, anyway? That's not fair."

"I'm just able to hold my drink better than you," Lucius told him with a small smirk. "Shall I help you with your pyjamas?"

"Yes," Harry hummed, putting his arms around the blond's neck and nibbling on his earlobe, "please, Luc, help me feel good, please. I'm ready. You don't have to wait anymore."

"Harry, I don't think this is such a good idea..." Lucius half-heartedly pushed Harry away from him. "I don't want you to regret it later."

"You don't want me," Harry sniffed. "I thought you wanted me...I'll be good, I promise...They said I was good."

Lucius mentally winced, not wanting to compare their relationship with what they had done to his delicate boyfriend. "I'm sure you are and of course I want you, sweet one, but this is not how I want you..." Lucius argued, lovingly kissing Harry's wrists. "Please, don't feel rejected."

The blind boy seemed to ponder his words and he took the chance to clean Harry's clothes with his wand and tuck him into his bed.

"How can I not feel rejected, Luc?" he finally whined. "I want to have sex now and if you don't want to I'll find someone else."

"Harry," Lucius tried to reason with him, confining him in his arms, "I want you and I want to have sex with you, but not like this. Never like this. This is not my style, I don't need to force my lovers to my bed and I don't need to get them drunk either."

"So you think I'm not good enough for you," Harry accused him, "because you think that I need alcohol to not be afraid."

"In this case I think so," Lucius sighed, brushing a stray lock out of Harry's face before softly kissing his nose and licking off the chocolate; Harry giggled. "I had a great birthday and I enjoyed your present more than any of the others and I enjoy holding you in my arms. I'm glad for you that you aren't afraid right now, but when we sleep with each other I want you to be sober and not afraid and not drunk and not afraid. And I want to get to know you beforehand and I want to know exactly what you like and what you don't because under no circumstances do I want to remind you of them. I've waited too long and worked too hard to gain your trust to just throw it away for one drunken night."

"Too many words," Harry complained. "I'm drunk, Luc, I can't con... conce...conce...listen to you for so long."

The blond laughed, placing a kiss on Harry's hairline. "So you finally realised that you're drunk?"

"Yes," Harry grumbled, "and I don't like sober people."

He turned his back to Lucius, who was once again chuckling, and wiggled to find a comfortable position.

"Luc?" he finally asked, lying still.

"Hm?"

"Thank you," Harry mumbled, "I might be drunk, but I'm still sober enough to appreciate it. I think I love you, Luc."

With that he wriggled once more, pressed Lucius' hand to his chest, so that Lucius had no choice but to stay, and fell asleep, snoring softly.

Lucius sighed, trying to get comfortable, spooning around his smaller boyfriend. It seemed that he had made his decision. He hadn't succumbed to the temptation of taking Harry and use his temporary fearlessness to his advantage. There went the bet, there went his reputation, there went everything that characterised him. He groaned softly, not because he regretted his decision, but at the realisation that whether he fulfilled the bet or not would have little consequence for how hurt Harry would feel if he ever found out about it.

He brushed a kiss over Harry's still slightly chocolatey lips. "I love you too, Harry, and I just hope that you will still want me around when you find out what I did."

He had never meant those words as much as he did then.

Don't know when I'll be able to update again, but I'll try to hurry, if you review...