Lucius Malfoy and Harry Potter sat across from each other in Malfoy Manor's grand library, ignoring the exquisite breakfast tea laid out between them in preference of the cut crystal glasses of Firewhiskey each one cradled in their hands.

Lucius raised his glass to his lips and almost laughed at the farcical situation they were all in. If anyone told him ten years ago he would be having morning tea, having stayed up since midnight with the-boy-who-lived and his best friend Severus Snape, while plotting to end the life of Ronald Weasley, he would have sent them to St. Mungo's Spell Damage Ward.

How things have changed.

"So tell me Potter,"Lucius said, trying to keep his tone neutral.

"Harry," interjected the green eyed wizard as he took another sip of his Firewhiskey.

"Yes, Harry. I apologise. Some habits are hard to break," the older wizard said coolly before setting his glass down on the Queen Anne table beside him. "How much of Severus' plan do you know?"

Harry sighed.

"Enough to know he will end up in Azkaban unless we find a way to persuade him to take a different approach. He will be of no use to either Hermione or Rose if he was imprisoned."

Lucius turned his grey eyes toward the dark wizard he had known for almost forty years. The Potions Master was standing at the opposite end of the library in front of one of the opulent French bay windows, hands clasped behind his back, his mind obviously preoccupied. The last thing Lucius wanted was for his friend to end up in the very place they had both fought so hard to stay out of. Though he was sure the majority of the public would be very pleased to see Severus Snape rotting in the wizarding prison, it would be a cold day in hell before he would allow that to happen to his friend.

What good were money and power if you could not use it to your advantage?

Turning his attention back to the hero of the wizarding world, he recognised that honesty was probably the best strategy when dealing with a Gryffindor like Harry Potter. Though he personally had no love for the boy, they both shared a bond of mutual respect and friendship for the former professor that overshadowed their dislike for each other.

How Severus would balk to hear that, thought Lucius with a smirk.

"Understand me," Lucius said as he leaned back against the deep green cushions of the fauteuil à la reine he favoured. "My loyalty lies with Severus, not the Granger women. "

Lucius watched Harry's eyes widen in anger and raised a hand to his lips inclining his head toward the other end of the room where Severus stood. He had seen the boy clutch the arms of his antique chair in fury as he knew the Gryffindor would, at the mention of Granger and her daughter, but he still wanted to get his point across.

Preferably before Severus was within hearing range.

Lucius accioed the fine crystal decanter of Firewhiskey and topped off both their glasses before continuing.

"Do you have any idea how long it took me to convince that stubborn man to retire from the hell that was Hogwarts? Severus has always hated teaching. I believe that anyone with a common brain the size of a walnut could see that. He stayed because he felt he had no other options, and nowhere else to go, even though the man possess one of only three potions mastery's in the whole of Great Britain including the intelligence to rival, if not surpass that of your hero Dumbledore," Lucius added coldly as he took a long swallow of the amber liquid in his glass. Albus Dumbledore was just as much a manipulator and slave owner as The Dark Lord had been, in Lucius' opinion, except he did it in the name of the light. Lucius had seen firsthand how he had manipulated Severus' love for Lily and in the end; it had nearly caused him his friend's soul.

Lucius was not surprised to see the younger wizard stiffen at the mention of Dumbledore's name. Was he not the older wizard's greatest protector and the apple of his eye? Lucius snorted softly and was about to continue when he heard Potter speak, a coldness in his voice he had never heard before.

"Is that really what you believe, Malfoy?"

Potter's voice was so low and frigid; he couldn't help but lock eyes with the bespeckled wizard in front of him.

Lucius accepted the challenge.

Crossing his arms over his elegant robes, his resplendent long hair in a tail at his nape, he sneered at the younger wizard in a way that would have made even Severus Snape proud.

"Tell me then Potter, what should I think, coming from Gryffindor's highest defender?"

Harry nearly slammed his drink on the Queen Anne table beside him, until he remembered Severus at the other end of the room. He did not want the Potions Master to hear this particular conversation.

Taking the last of his drink in a long swallow, he set his glass down on the table and faced the older Malfoy with steel in his eyes. They had been enemies for a very long time, for there was much history between them, but caught somewhere in there was Severus Snape, a person they both cared about, and he was tired of these games.

It needed to end now.

"Listen Malfoy, Can we end these stupid House rivalry insults? I may not speak out against Dumbledore the way I should, because doing so would cause a great deal of turmoil in a wizarding world that still holds him in such high regard, but I hold no love for the man. He used me in many ways, the same way he used Severus, and even though it was supposedly for the common good, I am not blinded to the fact there could have been alternatives to his master plan.

I saw Severus' memories Malfoy," Harry said narrowing his green eyes at the grey that were melded to his own. "I know what Dumbledore did to him, as well as the pain inflicted by both my mum and dad. I can't make up for things people did before I was born, but that doesn't mean I can't make the future better. I've asked him to be godfather to my twins, including naming my firstborn after him so that he may have a namesake. I did my best to include him in any family gatherings Luna and I have had. He use to refuse all of them outright in the beginning, but after the children were born, I knew he made more of an effort to be there, especially for his godsons, and believe me when I tell you, they adore him, both of them."

Harry's eyes grew softer when he thought about how proud Severus had been to be the first to see the twin's magical abilities manifest. He and Luna had left both boys' in Severus' care (at his insistence) when he and Luna had decided to take a week long holiday for themselves during the summer of the boy's third year.

At the end of their holiday when they returned to Spinner's End to collect the boys, Luna and he had been astounded to see the Potions Master on the floor with the twins on his lap, and several wooden blocks floating between all three of them. When Severus looked up with a deeply satisfied smirk on his face, he realised it was the boys levitating the wooden toys, and not the smirking professor.

The very next day, an owl had flown to the Potter home dropping off a beautiful leather bound photo album that was filled with the magical moving photographs of his sons' first attempts at magic.

He knew the endeavor must have taken Severus an enormous amount of time to capture, and wanted to instantly floo to Spinner's End to thank him personally, but Luna had stopped him.

"Sometimes Harry, the best way to thank someone is by not thanking them at all. Let time show you other ways," Luna had said. At first he was angry and not sure how to take that, but years and experience had once again proven that Luna Potter was brilliant in many ways most wouldn't give her credit for.

He did thank Severus, but over time and without outwardly acknowledging it. Subtlety was the key. If you did anything outright with the Potions Master, it was more than likely to be rejected. Time and patience had proven that, and now it was needed more than ever.

"Severus may never like me, and I've learned to accept that," Harry said, lowering his eyes. He had always harbored thoughts of getting to know the reclusive man better, for not only was he the final link to his parents, but in many ways, he could not help but feel protective over the wizard who had given up the better part of his life to watch over him, and regardless of what other people thought, he knew it was not just for Lily Potter anymore.

His twins had proven that.

Severus was a free man. After Voldemort had been defeated, he could have gone his separate way and ignored them all, but the fact he remained in the fabric of their lives, silently watching over all of them, was a testament to how much Harry and his family meant to him.

Even though he knew he would never admit it.

Hermione's inclusion in Severus' small world had been a shock at first. He and Luna had been out of touch with her and Ron for so long he did not think he would actually hear from the couple again other than the obligatory Christmas greetings, and even those had stopped over the last few years.

The divorce came as no shock to anyone. Again, he only knew of information that trickled in from Severus, Molly and Arthur or the occasional reliable source that Luna had for The Quibbler, but still he had never thought that Hermione and Ron had been a good match. Hermione was far too intelligent and strong for someone needy like Ron who he knew wanted a baby factory and a witch who would stroke his ego and fill his needs.

How or why Hermione put up with it for as long as she did, Harry couldn't understand until he realised what had been part of the problem.

Many people had failed, or did little to notice the witch in question, always assuming she was alright. Hermione Granger was strong and independent. Surely nobody, especially her own husband would take advantage of her?

It was only after Severus explained the situation that he understood how badly he had failed his former best friend. He was going to do everything he could to make it up to her. Even if she would not accept it, he at least had to try.

Knowing that Severus loved her, only added fuel to his resolve. He knew that when Severus gave his heart, it was forever, and never to be taken lightly. Harry shivered slightly when he thought about Ron. The day he had hurt Hermione and her daughter he had sealed his fate.

Dead or alive, Ron would never be the same again.

Harry knew he had no right to betray his friend's trust, but lives were hanging in the balance now, and if anyone could help Severus to see reason, it was Lucius Malfoy.

Harry raised his eyes toward the dark figure standing by the window, before turning his gaze to meet the steel grey in front of him. Making his decision, he lowered his voice and said three soft words.

"He loves her."

For a long time, the two men simply stared at each other, before both turned away and pondered the empty glasses at their side that nobody bothered to refill.

Finally unable to take the silence any longer, Harry leaned forward and hissed, "Did you hear what I said Malfoy?"

Lucius flicked his gaze from the fire he had been staring at to the emerald that was boring into his own. For the first time that night, he felt powerless.

"What do you want me to say Potter?"

Harry's mouth fell open.

"What do you mean? Did you not hear what I just said? He loves her! Don't you think that means something?" Harry was so angry by this point; he was close to drawing his wand.

Lucius on the other hand seemed not to notice, instead turning his eyes back to the fire.

"Tell me what unrequited love has brought to Severus? He was trapped, manipulated and almost lost his very soul for a woman who barely recognised he existed after 6th year, no matter how much he tried to apologise to her. He is finally at a place in his life I thought he could start over and try to find some peace, then all this starts. What is the point if she does not return the same sentiments toward him? Is this just another Lily Evans? How much more does he have to sacrifice of himself Potter?"

The words hit him like ice water. He finally understood what Lucius had been trying to say the whole night.

Harry reached deep inside himself to remember everything he loved and knew about his former best friend. He had always known that she and Ron were incompatible. Why? His head ached from trying to recall so many events from the past, but after a long time, he knew he finally had his answer, and was confident when he spoke.

"She loves him. Why else would she have gone to him of all people? Even in school she would never allow anyone to insult him. For so many years, Severus has been a constant wedge in Ron and Hermione's life. I remember the rows they would have when we were still in contact, and even afterward, I recall Ron saying on the few occasions I did see him at Molly's, how the git could do no wrong in her eyes. Trust me when I tell you that Hermione is like Severus in more ways than she cares to admit. I have no doubt she loves him and in some ways, always has. I would risk my life on it."

Lucius closed his eyes and lifted a hand to his temple, trying to massage some of the stress away. He would have to call in That Woman he knew for a proper massage when this was all done. Finally he gave a resigned sigh.

"I owe Severus, not just because he saved my son many times over, but because he is my best friend and a good individual who never gave up on me, even though society had deemed me unworthy from my past mistakes, including my own wife. He deserves peace for once in his life, and if what you are saying is true, then I will do what I can to not only keep him out of Azkaban, but to ensure his own chances at happiness…Harry."

Harry could not help but smile at the older wizard's first sincere attempt at using his given name. Relaxing for the first time that night, he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Thank you….Lucius."

The blonde wizard had just started to smirk when they heard the sharp snap of Severus' robes.

Both men turned to see the dark wizard striding toward them with deadly resolve in each step. Murder was etched in the ebon depths of his eyes and strong magic was radiating off him like heat.

"Weasley is at Spinner's End. He is attempting to breach the wards."

Both men stood up in alarm, but Severus flung them both aside with a wave of his hand. Before they could recover, he had thrown himself into the floo, called out his home and disappeared into the green depths of the flames.

Harry ran forward and was about to follow, when an arm pulled him back and shoved him into the chair he had been sitting in. Lucius stood in front of the fireplace with eyes closed, and his hand pressed painfully into the bridge of his nose.

"What are you doing? We need to help him!" Harry screamed, as he stood up, pulled out his wand and pointed it at the older wizard to try and get him to move out of the way. Had he lost his mind?

Lucius opened his eyes and stared at Harry with open irritation.

"Do you not know your former professor better than that? Spinner's End is warded you idiot, especially its floo. You will not be able to get through. You are thinking like a Gryffindor, wanting to rush into things. The only reason Severus was able to floo there was because he can unward it at will. It is his home."

Lucius was already walking toward the foyer when he noticed Harry was not following. Turning around, he saw the young man staring at the floo, a helpless expression on his face.

"We can't just abandon him. He needs our help."

Harry was stunned to hear a purr of laughter and turned to see narrowed grey eyes glittering at him from the doorway.

"Really Harry, do you honestly believe there is no other way to help Severus? Start thinking like a Slytherin instead of a Gryffindor. From what I heard you were almost sorted into our house. Pity really," Lucius smirked and turned on his heel knowing full well the-boy-who-lived was right behind him this time.

Author: Master Severus Snape

A/N: I have about 8 chapters that are already written that I will be posting in the next few weeks. After that I shall be writing the story by myself since it has been so long since my writing partner and I have been able to get together - I cannot say when we will be writing again.