Chapter 20
Here is another chapter, beta-ed by victory by grace. A big thanks to her!
-:-
Chapter 20: Secrets and Sympathy
Lucius woke slowly, drowsy and warm. He breathed in deeply through his nose and opened his eyes. For three seconds he saw nothing, and then he realised he was not looking at the canopy of his bed. He was in Harry's bed.
He turned his head and saw the other man lying on his side, head resting on his arm. The pillow was nowhere to be seen. Harry looked so utterly vulnerable lying there. How could he just sleep like that, Lucius wondered, with a soon-to-be Death Eater in the bed beside him?
Lucius remembered the fight last night with a cringe. He could hardly believe he had shouted those things at Harry. Such preposterous and completely untrue things, and while Harry had shouted back he hadn't turned Lucius away forever. Quite the opposite, in fact; he had been as relieved when the fight was over as Lucius. Their love-making had been intense as a result, as if their last arguments had come out in the harshness of their thrusts and bites, but it had somehow been all the sweeter as well. Harry had let Lucius fuck him again, and for an eighteen-year-old who had only had sex once before, it had been fucking heaven on earth.
Harry snorted softly in his sleep and moved slightly. Lucius carefully took his wand from the bedside table and checked the time. It was still early, so Lucius had time enough to sneak downstairs and get ready for the day. He would have to go to classes, he realised, and almost groaned at the thought. There hadn't been classes to attend since he and Harry had gotten together, which felt like a lifetime ago, and now Lucius was sure that the tediousness of class would kill him. There were, after all, so many, many things he'd rather be doing, and things he needed to do - one of which was seeing the Headmaster as soon as possible.
Lucius glanced over to the wardrobe, knowing his robe was inside, along with a certain scroll. He had plans for that scroll. He was just contemplating slipping out without waking the slumbering man beside him when Harry shifted again.
"Morning," a slightly hoarse voice mumbled. Harry slipped an arm over Lucius' chest and tugged him closer. His eyes never opened as he kissed Lucius' right shoulder. "Hmmm," Harry hummed as he leaned up so he could kiss up Lucius' neck. "Last night was fantastic, how about a repeat before class?"
"I wonder what the Headmaster would think if he knew-" Harry reared back and sat up as if he had been roughly pushed away. He looked disappointed, not angry, and that made Lucius regret his statement more than anything.
"Are you in a bad mood again?" Harry asked. Lucius reached out and gently took hold of Harry's arm.
"No, forgive me. That was careless of me." Harry's face softened, but not as much as Lucius would have liked. He didn't react to Lucius' touch.
"He would be very disappointed, I think," he said softly, looking away. Lucius glanced down at the defined chest and abdomen, looking so soft and edible in the morning light. Harry had a mythical quality to him as he sat leaning on one hand, the sheets pooled in his lap, and his hair ruffled with sleep, though that was hardly noticeable considered the usual state of Harry's hair. Lucius knew he could not look so carefree in the mornings. He needed a good hour to look his immaculate self, or so he thought.
"If he knows you at all-"
"He doesn't, not in this time," Harry grumbled. Lucius did not pause.
"-then he would know that you didn't take advantage of me, and that you had good reasons."
"Reasons?" Harry turned back and looked down at Lucius. His eyes seemed to flitter over every detail of Lucius' face.
"Yes, that you adore me and cannot help yourself." Lucius breathed an inward sigh of relief when Harry smiled at his comment.
"Well, yes, there is that. You are quite irresistible, especially in this lighting." Harry leaned down and kissed Lucius: a soft smack of lips, slightly wet. "Your hair is like a halo right now." Lucius snorted and then sat up, pushing Harry out of the way, but not before stealing another kiss.
"I must get ready, as some of us care about our appearance." Harry gave an indignant 'Hey!' and threw a pillow after Lucius. "I keep forgetting, which one of us is the Professor again?" Lucius' heart warmed at Harry's laugh and he got dressed with a smile on his face.
xxx
Harry found it strange to be back in the classroom after such events. He was also extremely relieved he had managed to part on good terms with Lucius that morning. It let him concentrate on the lessons, at least somewhat. He noticed Snape at the back of the classroom, scribbling away on a piece of parchment, obviously not taking notes. The boy was bent over his desk, shielding what he was writing even though no one sat near him.
Harry thought of the part Snape had to play and felt a deep sadness. A year of training in Durmstrang, training that would no doubt teach him much more than just spells and duelling. He would be taught to hate as well, hate with a purity he did not possess now. Harry turned back to the blackboard and did not reprimand Snape for not paying attention.
It was the last class before lunch, but Harry did not leave the room with the students. He sat awhile behind the desk and looked through the essays he had graded on Friday, checking that he had placed the correct grade. It was halfway through lunch when he realised he was hungry and decided to grab a bite in the Great Hall before the next class. He quickly put down his quill and headed out the door.
He had reached the main stairway and was just about to go down when he heard footsteps and looked up. To his surprise it was Lucius coming down. Harry smiled, a little perplexed, and then even more so when Lucius froze for a second upon seeing him.
"Professor Valen," Lucius said in greeting and continued down the stairs.
"Mr. Malfoy," Harry answered. "Why are you not at lunch?"
"I was on a walk," Lucius answered. "I wanted to see the view from one of the towers."
"Oh," Harry said, his puzzlement disappearing.
"Shall we walk down together?" Lucius offered. Harry nodded and they both went down, Harry with a secret smile and Lucius with an occasional glance at the other that no one would have been able to decipher.
Severus Snape watched as Professor Valen and Lucius Malfoy entered the Great Hall. His eyes narrowed as he wondered what they had been up to that had caused them to be so late.
"Are you going to put that down?" Severus' eyes snapped to the girl sitting beside him (well, two seats over since no one would actually sit right next to him, nor did he want them to). He realised he was still holding onto the pumpkin-juice jug with an iron grip. He hastily handed it over and returned to his food, though his mind did not leave the two men who now said their goodbyes before going to their respective tables.
Severus had been informed of the Dark Lord's interest in the Professor, though he did not know why. Certainly the man was a good duellist, and had actually managed to get Severus somewhat interested in the art, but why go to all the trouble of kidnapping the man?
Severus cast a disgusted look at the staff table. Valen and Malfoy were too close, in his opinion. There was something there, Severus knew it, but he was not likely to find out. Lucius Malfoy's secrets were not easily discovered.
Still, it vexed Severus to no end that he was brewing this difficult potion and the Head Boy didn't seem to appreciate any of his efforts. Instead he was practically consorting with the very man they were trying to capture. Severus was glad Malfoy had not told the Dark Lord of his minor setback, but nor had he asked about the potion until Severus had gone to him. Now they were well into the next week and Severus had not received the new batch of ingredients he had been promised.
Not that he was worried; Severus snorted at the thought. Some of the students around him grimaced, but he did not notice. He would complete it in time. He would become the Dark Lord's personal Potions Master. James Potter and his ilk had no place in the future Severus was going to be a part of…
The young Slytherin squeezed his eyes shut as thoughts he did not wish to contemplate assailed him. No, he would not think of her. Not once. No.
His breathing under control, Severus calmly took one last bite of his lunch and rose. He swept down the long table, his eyes staying locked on Lucius Malfoy's shape for as long as they could.
He almost stumbled when a hand shot out from the row of students and stopped him. Outraged Severus opened his mouth to protest, only to snap it shut again when he saw it was Nott.
"Snape," he said, his hand falling away now he had the boy's attention. "I'll see you after class, the dungeon nearest the common room." Severus bristled and sneered.
"I'm done with you Nott. I don't take orders-"
"If you don't meet with me I'll make things very unpleasant for you, Snape," Nott warned, his voice as dark as his eyes. The students around them listened to their conversation, but largely dismissed it. It was hardly news that Nott was conversing with Snape; he had been doing so the whole year. "You imagine you can run to your new pal, Malfoy? Is that it? You're nothing to him. He wouldn't even consider protecting you in public and you know it." Severus' face was in a familiar sneer. He hated Nott. The Slytherin had been annoying him all year, pressuring him to make a decision. True, he had now made that decision, but that only meant Severus had been looking forward to a Nott-less term.
"Whatever," he grumbled and continued on his way. Nott followed Snape with his eyes until the boy disappeared from the Great Hall, then he looked to Lucius Malfoy. The man hadn't noticed their exchange, which was very fortunate.
Severus exited the Great Hall and made his way to his Arithmancy class. Usually he liked the subject, being that he used it frequently when he researched potions, but during the year he had grown to hate it immensely. Not only did he share it with Lily Evans, but there were so few students it was easier for her to send suspicious, betrayed, – or worse – disgusted looks at him.
The few students from all four different houses started arriving, all of them the sort to come early. Severus froze when he felt more than saw Lily sitting down close to him, leaving only a small seat between them on the bench. He didn't look up, but he felt her eyes on him.
"I see you've teamed up with Nott… again," she whispered as the Professor bustled into the room. The man started on a lecture right away, but Severus didn't notice. He didn't know how to answer her. He had avoided so much as looking at her since the dance. He dipped his quill and poised it over the blank parchment in front of him, as if ready to take notes.
"I didn't know you were speaking to me," he murmured.
"I thought you weren't speaking to me," Lily replied. Severus chanced a lightning quick glance at her. She was in the same position as him, only she was actually taking notes it seemed.
"And why would that bother you?"
"I never said it did." Severus didn't know how to interpret the emptiness in Lily's voice. She was usually so emotional, whether angry or sad or happy, but this was something else, and Severus didn't like it.
"So you only sat here to make me feel, what? Guilt? I told you before that my business with Nott is no concern of yours." By the end of Severus' outburst his voice had risen to an above normal level and the Professor gave him a stern look. Severus apologised immediately and went back to his 'notes'.
"I merely observed", Lily said archly, "that you haven't been meeting up with Nott lately and then suddenly he grabbed your arm in the middle of the Great Hall. It seemed to me you had a rather heated discussion." Before Severus could consider his tone of voice he answered, terse and a bit haughty. He just couldn't stand Lily's tone.
"Did it even occur to you that I've moved on from Nott and that I'm in contact with much more influential persons?" He would never admit that Lucius Malfoy had enlisted his services, but it was tempting. James Potter did not have a career like this waiting for him, Severus was sure. He would be the best Potions Master in a century.
"So… you're still on that path then." Lily's voice held no question, only disappointment. "I thought, since you seemed to dismiss Nott, but of course, that was stupid of me. I apologise, I shan't bother you again." With that Lily hastily gathered her books and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Miss Evans?" The Professor inquired.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I'm not feeling well." Lily didn't wait for a reply and the class watched her leave in silence. Severus didn't look up from his blank parchment.
The rest of the lecture passed in a blur. Severus left class and let his feet carry him down the many stairs. He didn't have anymore classes that day so he crossed the nearly empty Entrance Hall without consciously thinking where he was going. That was a mistake he had made before, and unfortunately he paid for it again.
A hand gripped his arm hard enough to bruise and he was spun around so fast he stumbled, but kept himself upright. James Potter stood glaring at him.
"What did you do to Evans this time?" he demanded. Severus' sneer was in place at once. He pointedly adjusted his robes and dusted himself off.
"What happens between me and Lily is none of your business," he snapped. James glowered. "What makes you think I did anything to her?"
"She skipped class, that's what. She went straight to her room without speaking to us and she looked upset! Since she had Arithmancy I blame you." Severus snorted and rolled his eyes.
"Her not speaking to you is a sign that something has happened, is it?" he asked sarcastically. "I don't have time for this." He whirled around and walked down the staircase. He felt his heart pumping hard, no doubt anticipating James Potter hexing him in the back, but as the light from the sun disappeared and the coolness of the dungeon surrounded him, Severus sighed silently in relief. Perhaps the boy hadn't dared hex someone without his cronies to back him up in case a teacher caught him. Severus didn't look back to check, and continued on his way.
He passed the entrance to the Slytherin common room, though he did so with reluctance. He was soon inside the old unused dungeon. It was bare grey stone and the only thing in it was Nott and a couch that the boy had obviously conjured. The older Slytherin was lounging back in the couch, smirking at Severus, who came into the room with a scowl on his face.
"What do you want, Nott?"
"Close the door," was Nott's answer. Severus reached for his wand, but Nott made a movement with his hand that said he shouldn't. Severus rolled his eyes and went back to the door to close it manually. He remained by the door this time, dropping his bag and crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you want?" he repeated. Nott's smirk widened and he lazily gestured for Severus to sit.
"Come on, I only wish to talk, like we used to." Severus snorted.
"I remember you talking, quite a lot, though most of it came through as an annoying buzzing sound." Nott bristled and Severus could see he was about to retort hotly, but then he composed himself quickly. He put on his smirk again.
"You think you're quite the social climber, don't you? What is it Malfoy does that is so different? Why did you give in to him and not me?" Severus' eyes were calculating, taking in every detail of the boy to discover his intentions. Obviously, the boy was insulted that Lucius Malfoy had turned Severus so quickly to the Dark Lord, while Nott had been pestering Severus for close to a year, on and off.
"He's persuasive. Perhaps he promised things you couldn't," Severus answered vaguely.
"Oh, but I can offer you things he wouldn't dream of," Nott said with glinting eyes, leaning forward. "Now, come here."
"Do you honestly expect me to obey you?" Severus asked incredulously.
"Accio Severus Snape," Nott's wand was out so quick Severus only had time to yelp as he was propelled to the couch. He landed with a grunt, scrambling for his wand, but he was nowhere near as quick or as skilled as the older boy, who quickly grabbed his wrist. "Now, now, no need for that. Don't be afraid, Severus, I have no intention of harming you." Severus face was twisted in a grimace and he struggled, but Nott readjusted his position, pressing both of Severus' wrists to the back of the couch, their faces very close.
"You disgust me, Nott," Severus snarled, but it wasn't true. The boy was fairly handsome, not at all repulsive looking. Severus was a boy who had never been kissed, never even been this close to another human being besides his mother before. The beating of his heart felt hard against his ribs, though that was more from fear of what Nott would do.
"Just tell me what I want to know and I'll reward you," Nott breathed. Severus sneered, but without his usual heat, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
"What do you want to know?" he asked. Nott's eyes drifted down to Severus' lips and the younger Slytherin squirmed. He would not get his first kiss forcibly from a boy trying to interrogate him; another, smaller part of him, however, wanted to know what it was like- he couldn't help it.
"What is it Malfoy wants from you?" Nott murmured.
"A potion," Severus bit out. "He has orders, from the Dark Lord, so I suggest you not interfere."
"Oh, I won't," Nott laughed. "You know, Severus, you're not as bad on the eyes as the girls who tease you insist." Severus flushed immediately, every cruel comment about his nose and hair springing to mind. At fifteen Severus had already resigned himself to the fact that nobody would ever want him, especially not a certain redheaded Gryffindor, so he knew Nott wasn't being serious. The intense dark eyes nevertheless made him shiver.
"Yes, I'm really just a swan in disguise," Severus managed with what could still be considered a sneer. It fell off his face when he swallowed. Nott shifted close.
"Your eyes are quite nice," Nott continued. "But I doubt it's your looks the Dark Lord wants. Now, Malfoy on the other hand, he's really only good as an ornament. He certainly looks like one." Suddenly soft lips were on Severus' own and his breath hitched. He felt like all his blood vessels were about to explode. He told himself that he was struggling to free himself, but another part of him felt exhilarated at being kissed. Nott moved his lips slightly, but then pulled back. Severus panted while the other boy's glinted maliciously, though Severus hardly noticed since his eyes were glued to the boy's lips.
Nott released one of Severus' wrists and then leaned forward, again the kiss was unexpected. Severus felt a shiver run through him as Nott opened his mouth and licked Severus' bottom lip.
"What is Malfoy planning?" Nott whispered.
"He wants to kidnap Professor Valen," Severus breathed back, tilting his head up to get another kiss, which he was given, briefly.
"What on earth for?"
"I don't know the specifics, but apparently the Professor exhibited a great magical strength which the Dark Lord wants a closer look at. Valen-" another kiss and Severus arched upwards into Nott's body, but he was quickly held to the couch again. "The Professor has made it clear he doesn't support the Dark." Severus leaned up and Nott kissed him again, this time slipping his tongue in, causing Severus to groan and try to suck the tongue deeper into his mouth. Nott drew back with a chuckle.
"So eager. What is your role? How is he to be kidnapped?"
"During Easter," Severus gasped, feeling as if his body would catch fire if Nott didn't kiss him again. A small part of his brain was still functioning. "What are you… doing to me?" Another kiss, this was the deepest yet and Severus tingled with it.
"Answer the question." It took a moment for Severus to remember it.
"I made a sleeping potion with a delayed reaction. It won't affect Valen until two hours after it's consumed. Lucius will then take him past the wards, behind the Shrieking Shack, and wait for the Death Eaters to pick him up."
"When?" Severus made a strangled sound at the back of his throat. Nott sighed and kissed him again.
"Easter. I don't know the exact date." Nott drew back completely with another sigh, releasing Severus, who blinked several times. Slowly he felt his head clearing, and he realised what had happened-
"You bastard!" he cried, rising to his feet, his fists clenched. Nott didn't even have the decency to reach for his wand. He just leaned back and smirked. "What did you use?"
"Just a simple lust charm," Nott answered lightly. "It always works wonders on you virgins." Severus blushed, though he was already pretty red from his arousal. He reached for his wand. Nott was on his feet with wand drawn before Severus touched it. "What are you going to do? Run to Malfoy and tell him how you spilled the beans? I suggest you walk away and pretend this never happened." Severus glared, but knew it was hopeless. He cursed himself for not taking up duelling earlier. One thing was certain: he would never be duped like this again.
"You'll regret this Nott," he bit out. Nott laughed.
"I almost do already," he said, then wiped his lips with the back of his hand. "You taste as disgusting as you look." Severus' face went slack. He turned on his heel and marched out without another word, grabbing his bag roughly on the way.
Nott followed after a few moments, and an invisible boy was left alone in the dungeon. James Potter stood stock still under his cloak, wondering what on earth he was going to do with this information. He also wondered why he had this strange feeling at the pit of his stomach… what was it?
It was sympathy. For Severus Snape.
He returned to the dormitory, subdued and thoughtful. He wouldn't answer any of the other boys' questions.
Downstairs in a similar dormitory Severus was biting his pillow to keep from sobbing.