Disclaimer: What am I a genius? I don't own these characters, if I did, well, put it this way, I wouldn't be here now, would I? Think about it logically. All complaints should be directed at me for being a talent-less nobody who needs to borrow JK Rowling's characters. They aren't mine, consider it all disclaimed.

Author's Note: My brain was completely cheesed when I wrote this. Please read, and please, please review! I love reviews!

::~::

Will I lose my dignity?

Will someone care?

Will I wake tomorrow, from this nightmare?

(Taken from; 'Will I?' From the musical 'Rent.')

Matutinus

There wasn't a lot he could do in the night... sit and wait, wait for the morning, and what the day might bring...

There was a world outside, a dark one, one he hadn't ventured into since he had shown a hint of redemption to an old man with a kind and forgiving heart - unfortunately it wasn't always trusting in the right things. He didn't want to betray Dumbledore, but what if Voldemort figured out what he was doing? What if he folded? Surely it would be safer to do what the strongest wizard commands... spineless... stop thinking like that! Stop being such a... a... Slytherin! Faux Pas...

He looked up from the desk in his office - nothing had changed. The glass he had broken the day before was still smashed up on the floor, and left lazily to collect dust - be a general nuisance - the usual. He looked at the collection of papers on his desk-top, along with the decanter full of some vile liquid that took his fancy the night before. The brandy glass full of it, seemed to have been barely touched, he'd been babysitting it all night - like there were no finer child anywhere. He held his head in his hands and flashed his shadowy eyes to the door before a sound was even uttered from the creaking wood.

There was what appeared to be a sound like an echoing wind and then nothing... there was nothing. Blink man, blink! There's nothing there, just your imagination, - you should sleep more. That or find a cure for your insomnia - doubtful that you'll fine it in the bottom of a brandy glass and a decanter full of visions of the ladies of the night, the tresses of charcoal black curling over the figure infallible before melting back into the incandescent fluid.

He dragged himself out of the chair from behind the desk, oh so tempted to push the glass off the table, half in rage, half at a whim... just because he could, to prove that he had done it once, he could do it again. It was like so many things - he stopped himself, because he knew he must, because it was about control and how to exercise it - not about losing yourself to the moment and not looking back - that was how mistakes were made.

He ignored the state his office was in, smashing the pieces of a broken glass underfoot, just like he didn't care - without a care...

::~::~::~::

"So that will be one Cognac, Mr. Malfoy?" Madam Rosmerta repeated the order, not that she needed to, there was only one person - made her sound a bit stupid really, but well, she wasn't bothered, it was good service.

"That's correct, Madam Rosmerta," his tone was so smooth, oozing, sophisticated, god she loved it. It wasn't like he would answer her with any tone of respect but, Lucius Malfoy, certainly did have something that made women attracted to him without his having to try. Perhaps it was the silver-blonde hair or his personality, maybe his physique, but it was definitely his eyes. Icy pools of silvery perfection - a trait that his son had inherited - there was a power at his glance that could turn you from hot to cold and back again in two seconds flat.

"I'll be back in a minute Sir," she said with ease, she didn't need him to respect her for her to respect him, he had presence and like most women she found it impossible not to like him.

She meandered back through her pub full of drunks, business wizards - if that was how she could refer to the more dignified looking men and women among the rabble, and got back to the bar surveying her other customers.

There were normal looking people, and then there were the students, trying as always to break the age barrier in their holidays - to tempt the delights of mindless drunkenness, popping out in beards left right and centre. She stifled a chuckle before continuing with Lucius' drink.

When she looked up at him again, there was a second man. The second man like Lucius, was proud, but no where near as handsome, as far as she could make out. It was Severus Snape, he looked like he had seem better days, but then, she wasn't in a particularly good mood with him - not after the previous night. It was strange to think however, that she wasn't actually that angry about it. She'd been fuming at the time, but it had just stopped mattering to her now. She couldn't help watching them - Snape, had been correct about her, she did listen in on everything. It was one of the only perks of the job, that and being able to get sloshed anytime you wanted, at other people's expense. She liked that, only it got old after two weeks, she learnt where he limit was when she decided to partake in lap dancing... she shuddered at the thought. Had to learn the hard way - didn't you?

She looked at Snape again, he flicked his dark eyes in her direction, and Lucius followed his glance. Both men sniggered as if schoolboys, Malfoy , looked to Snape in a very sadistic manner, Severus grinned back. Madam Rosmerta didn't like the way that either man was looking at her. It was an undignified way to look at a woman, a way that would most certainly make any woman feel uncomfortable. She turned her gaze back to the drink, she didn't want to know what they were contemplating or thinking about.

::~::

*Scratch / Rewind*

::~::

"What happened last night, I trust that it will not happen again," Snape spat at the man with silver-blonde hair.

"You think that was my doing?!" Lucius said, glowering up from the table.

"Who else could it have been?" Snape snorted, taking a seat by Lucius.

"I was robbed! Why would I do that to myself? Well?" Lucius said indignantly, he looked back at Snape.

"Then who ever it was got us both..." Severus wasn't even sure why he had found Malfoy in the Three Broomsticks... he didn't even know why he was there. He looked to the bar, something about the witch mixing drinks entranced him - he couldn't help looking, well not until he realised what he was doing.

"Like older women do we Snape?" said Lucius, a sly smile creeping into his face.

"Well you know what they say..." Severus said looking back at Lucius, in a way that made him seem just as devious as Lucius but, disgusted with his own behaviour, but he needed to gain the trust of this invertebrate.

"Hmm... too true. Not that I can really say that about Rosmerta, I am after all a few years older than she is," Malfoy then threw his eyes to the pretty witch behind the bar. "I wouldn't mind a bit of that myself, though I would think she'd moan like a whore."

"Then perhaps you could try making her scream?" Lucius looked at Snape, a vicious callus laugh escaping his lungs.

"I'd have no trouble doing that... you've seen the way she looks at me. She's like a dog missing her masters leg," was the cool calm reply of Mr. Lucius Malfoy.

"I wouldn't be so full of yourself Lucius, I've seen your terriers look at you with more longing for your leg than any woman - in fact, I think Rosmerta, would rather do your terriers than you..." Snape found himself in a fit of laughter... Lucius clearly didn't find it very funny.

"Is that what you think Severus?" Lucius spat indignantly, "how about I prove you wrong?"

"Gladly, do try... I'm dying to see her turn you down. I mean what would that charming stick insect you call a wife say? That is if you have trained her to speak yet... you have tried I trust?" It appeared evident to Severus his tone wasn't agreeing with Lucius, who was now contemplating what his next move would be.

"And then how would that rate you? She'd sooner sleep with me than you," he smirked.

"There is a difference though Lucius," Snape began. "I'm not looking to get my leg over, unlike somebody I'm looking at," Severus shrugged his shoulders.

"Not because I want to Snape... just because I can," he said smoothly.

"Lost your touch at home have you?"

"Shut up!" Lucius snapped. "All this is coming from a man who has had less sex than a lettuce."

"That just shows you how little you know," Severus retorted slouching back into the chair in a dignified fashion. "I bet I could floor her before you could," he added watching as the bar maid cautiously approached the two men.

"Ahh yes, thank you, Rosmerta..." Lucius said slyly, Severus could only assume that he had accepted the challenge from that point on. "Hmm... Now I'm just wondering, is Rosmerta your first or last name? I mean can't very well be called Madam Rosmerta if that is your first name... so formal. What is your first name?"

"Lucius, this is a pub, she could call herself what she wanted, you know damn well that is her first name," Rosmerta placed the drink on the table as Snape practically froze any flirting by treading on Lucius' only interesting lead on her.

"Then perhaps you can tell me your surname..." Lucius smirked at Snape who rolled his eyes.

"I'm feeling esurient - but not... bring me a brandy..." he said looking to Rosmerta the same dead pan expression on his face.

"Certainly Professor," she said calmly.

"And why don't you join us?" Lucius called after her.

"Why don't you make it a little more obvious!" Snape growled through gritted teeth.

"A means to an end Severus - a means to an end."

"We'd better get this over with before you get plastered and attempt to get horizontal?" Severus said calmly.

"Me get plastered? You're the one that is down here in the week getting hammered when you should be marking work," Lucius said shortly. "You're lucky I don't report you to the governors."

"One small problem with that Lucius, you lost your post with the governors and haven't really got much popularity among them - now."

"Forget it Snape, I wasn't going to report you to them anyway. I don't turn my back on my... hmm how to phrase this without sounding like I am quoting lines from a bible. I guess I could call you my, partner in crime... it is our mutual liking of the Dark side that links us, so in a way we are brothers... doesn't mean I want to hug you or anything. I mean no offence Severus, but when did you last take a bath? I can smell that scent that you get off of dogs when they've been out in the rain," Lucius started twitching his nostrils.

"That's because you are sitting next to the head of a moose, and the smell of dogs in the rain, well that's just you summed up. And for the brothers comment, I would only like to comment that I would have killed you years ago had our... now how should I refer to the Dark Lord? If mother hadn't stopped me," Lucius sniggered, Snape allowed himself a small smirk. "Speaking of mother... when can I expect to be involved in the - cause - again. I wish to plunge myself straight in, just to prove that I am still..." at this point he lowered his tone, more so than it had already been. "Capable of exacting excruciating pain upon his enemies... against our enemies. I wish to prove that my work for Dumbledore was only in waiting for his return, that I may serve him better upon his return." Lucius looked at Severus who sat back in his chair as Madam Rosmerta reappeared with their drinks.

I met him in a crowded room,

Where people go to drink away their gloom.

He sat me down and so it began,

The story of a charm-less man.

('Charm-less Man,' by Blur.)

Author's Note: Okay who brain cheesed me?! Which of you was it, come on, you can tell me! Anyway, this was a weird chapter! I don't know if the dialog was any good this time, but ain't Lucius rude?! MWAHAHAHA yeah, think about it!

Anyway, thank you to all my fantastic reviewers, yup I'm going to name you all. ^_^

Okay; Unicorn Lady, Mrs. Norris, Rose Flame, Green Pig, Sleepy Angel, Pinkpanther, tisnoimportant, bluemeanies, Morgana, () The dude who doesn't appear to have a name, but ta anyway, and Lelio.

You're all BRILLIANT! I LOVE YOU ALL!

Yours in all her brain-dead cheesiness, completely drooling over Alan Rickman (sorry, I can't help it.)

I'D. Fire

silver_shadow54@hotmail.com