Bammers: I'm not saying.mainly for fear of my life. I'm so sorry to leave you like that but sometimes, I have a very bad habit of not stopping once I get started. Of course, that could be seen as very good, depending on the situation. ^^;;
fidelio-fickles-revenge: I know the 11th does kinda wander. I fell into the trap of wanting to torture Orelan a lil bit more before he disappeared. I just couldn't resist it. ^.^;; I like to look at it as something of an interlude chapter. But I've got that outta my system, so it's go ahead as usual.
HPIceAngel: Thank you. I am all better now. To quote what Plastraa said: "Ahh yes, sleep and drugs.the choice of champions." *blushes while scratching back of head* I honestly don't get why you people are saying that, but I am glad you're all enjoying it. Smuttiness.we'll see. ^.~
DaughterofDeath: Chapter added.
Prongs: Thank you. I really have to remember to leave a review for EHR. I'm just so forgetful. I'll read, and be lost on musing on a chapter that I forget things.like reviewing. ^.^;;
Saavik13: Hehehe, I know. Lucius just really grabbed the proverbial knife and drove it right in. Perhaps Orelan did. And perhaps you asked something very similar to what frizzy asked. And perhaps you both get an answer in this chapter. ^.^
Squrlie Jack: Posted! Next chapter should be posted in a week and a half cuz I still have a crapload to do for my arts in China presentation in March.
Plastraa: No, no more wailing or gnashing of teeths in angsting. *whispers* I think I got all of that outta the way, ne? And maybe there is some more "hot luvin'". In all actuality, I'm feeling disgustingly healthy now. ^__^ Read and find out to see what hath happened in England. *points to subsequent text*
Immortal Memories: You shall see. All in due time, all in due time.
Shinigami Liliz Black: lol Go right ahead. I already posted the other one you sent me on my website. I also put your name, the date and a lil copyright thing on it. Just making sure no one steals it. My friend told me that a friend of hers is now involved in an ugly incident involving art theft. [of which my friend's friend is innocent btw]
Chapter 12
Lucius sat by the window, bored out of his mind. If someone had told him he would actually look forward to watching goats, he would have promptly clouted them over the head with the staff. But at the moment, he was stuck inside the house, watching the fat drops belt the glass.
It was rain. It had seemingly snuck up out of nowhere and decided to drench this small little bit of mountain. And it was now entering day two. Lucius didn't like being cooped up inside like this. Even after dashing outside to the barn to look after the animals, there wasn't much to do but run back to the house, dry off and wait for the rain to pass.
So here he was sitting in the kitchen at the table, staring out the window and pondering his thoughts. And at the moment, that was more than likely not a very good idea, since he found himself mulling over things he hadn't given much thought to when he first arrived.
Like his Dark Mark, and how it hadn't tingled at all. At least, it hadn't until last night. It had woken him in the middle of the night and left him restless, unable to sleep at all. Honestly, how could he have overlooked something as crucial as having this garish tattoo on his left inner forearm? Hell, he knew he couldn't even Apparate because the Dark Lord would be enraged that he hadn't done so earlier and delivered Harry up to him. Better he waited and come up with a more plausible excuse under different circumstances.
Perhaps because he made sure to wear long sleeved shirts so he didn't have to explain it. Or even look at it unnecessarily. It all seemed very convenient. But with the faint tingling, it all seemed to break the idyllic little world he had been inhabitating these past weeks. Voldemort seemed to have a nasty habit of being very ill-timed. Add that to a 'slightly' deranged and unstable mind and Lucius was more surprised that the Dark Mark hadn't tingled before.
At least it wasn't the searing pain that could leave him just as incapacitated as the Cruciatus curse could. But he was finding himself all the more disturbed by-
"You look awfully thoughtful."
Lucius looked up to see Harry standing in front the table and questioning look in his eyes. With a simple shrug, Lucius turned back to look out the window, retreating into his thoughts once more. Harry walked up to hanging rack over the counter, taking down a pot silently before digging out another from some cupboard.
"What exactly are you doing with that?" Lucius asked giving the pot Harry lifted to the stove a wary look from the corner of his eye. He didn't even know one could come in such a big size.
Harry looked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It's a soup pot. I'll make soup for dinner. This is soup weather after all." He started to fill it with water, turning the stove on underneath it.
Lucius didn't feel all that inclined to disagree with him. He continued looking out the window, glancing at Harry every once in awhile. 'I'm pretty scarred.' Lucius couldn't exactly shake the words from a few nights ago from his head. He knew Dumbledore would sacrifice for the greater good, but offering up the veritable poster child for all that the old man worked for.Lucius may not have been a nice man, but even he had his limits. Funny what lay beneath supposed goodness some times. He found himself wondering what Dumbledore would have done if Harry hadn't come back from the Dursleys' after a summer. Wouldn't that old man be hard pressed to explain that; the one place supposed to keep Harry safe had been the one place that killed him? The irony wasn't lost on him; it was rather twisted and warped; and, loathe as he was to admit it, it would have served the old coot right.
"Do you normally do that?"
"Do what?" Lucius asked, looking at Harry who was watching him curiously from the lit stove, a large stainless steel bowl on the counter beside him.
"Scowl like that when you think about something. It must have been something that really annoyed you." Harry walked over to the countertop, laying vegetables out along with a chopping board and cooking knife.
Lucius gave a light shrug. "Are you sure you want to be doing that?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Valencia might come storming in here."
"I doubt it, since she and Ernesto are upstairs catching up on some sleep. We're the only ones up." Harry said as he rinsed the vegetables. "Would you like to help instead of just sitting there?"
Lucius shot Harry a look that plainly said he was not attempting to cook Muggle style ever again.
"All right, all right. Besides, you just might chop off a finger and I'd prefer your hands whole." Harry said as he checked the knife before he started peeling and chopping up the carrots.
"Thanks," Lucius said.
"You know, I'm surprised you actually listened to Valencia," Harry said. "When we first got here, I was half expecting you to simply refuse her."
"The thought crossed my mind. But then a few things stopped me. You've undoubtedly noticed how alike she is to a certain Weasley in mannerisms?"
"If by certain, you mean Mrs. Weasley." Harry trailed off with a grin, his eyes still glued to the moving knife in his hands.
"Along with being stranded and unable to use magic, it was simply in my best interest to do as she said." Lucius paused for a moment. "Besides, I have seen that type of temper in public, and I have no wish to incur the same thing here."
"You don't know that for sure though." Harry pointed out.
"I'd rather not risk it. I'm not quite sure my ears would survive." Lucius said wryly.
Harry chuckled as he paused from chopping the vegetables to dump the contents of the bowl into the pot and cover it before washing out the bowl and his hands and returning to the vegetables. "It's not that pretty."
Lucius gave him a slight smile. "I'll simply stay out of the way. It's far less incriminating that way."
"Hrm," Harry glanced at Lucius with a small smile for a moment before he continued to chop carrots. "Really Lucius, what has you so worried?"
"It tingled last night," Lucius finally said in a quiet voice.
Harry paused for a moment before he resumed chopping. "The Dark Mark?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Lucius shifted so he could face Harry. "Has he been in your head?"
"He can't get in my head," Harry said, his voice a bit tight. "I mastered Occlumency during my sixth year."
"Occlumency." Lucius paused for a moment. "Who could have taught you that?"
"The same person you'll be slipping information to." Harry eventually said, a small smile creeping over his face.
"I daresay that's a rather sadistic expression you have on your face." Lucius said dryly.
"I was just imagining the look on his face. I'd pay to see that." Harry said.
"Would you?" Lucius mused in a slightly amused voice.
Harry gave a light chuckle before falling silent for a moment. "Is that what's bothering you? That it's only acted up now and not before?"
Lucius simply nodded his head, not certain of how to word his thoughts at the moment.
"Maybe something made him happy," Harry suggested. "Or really ticked him off."
Lucius shook his head. "It only reacts when he summons us.but much stronger."
"Well, that's not really a surprise then that it's only tingling." Harry said as he finished with the carrots and started on the celery. "Think about it. We're about a thousand miles away from home. It's not as if he's only forty or fifty miles away, where his magic has a greater reach."
Lucius didn't say anything for a moment. "Tell me Harry," he finally said in a soft voice. "What exactly would you do if the Dark Lord showed up here tomorrow?"
Harry stopped chopping the celery, his brow furrowing as he mulled over Lucius' words for a moment. "In all honesty?" he paused as Lucius nodded his head. "I don't know. Kill him like Dumbledore and everyone else expects me to, I suppose."
"And how do you propose to accomplish that?" Lucius asked
Even that, Harry wasn't sure of.
When Harry had rushed out into the battlefield that was virtually at the front gate of Hogwarts, he had no clue of how to defeat Voldemort. He had a vague idea that the answer lay in their wands; the near fatal duel between him and Voldemort in the graveyard had never left his mind. Beyond that, he had no clue, nothing at all. And all Dumbledore had told him was that he would know when the time came.
Cryptic sentences like that were more than likely to get him killed. Things like that didn't help, despite the extra training he had received from Moody, Lupin and Snape during what little free time he had aside from classes and Quidditch practice. Those were months that Harry was sure he would want to forget. Not because of Moody or Lupin. Between the Defence Against the Dark Arts and Duelling they taught him, he actually felt that he had something to look forward to. No, it was the Occlumency lessons afterwards with Snape that made him want to forget. Simply forget those hellish months in which they had prised bits of painful memories from one another; mainly from Harry, since Snape had the luxury of a pensieve.
And what really galled him was that Dumbledore, in all likelihood, knew exactly how to do in Voldemort.
He paused, rubbing his temples with two fingers, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Harry?" Lucius asked, his voice hinting at a slight anxiousness.
Snapping his eyes open, he looked at Lucius and blinked before resuming chopping.
"Did you hear what I said?" Lucius said after a few moments.
"Yeah, I heard," Harry lapsed into a brief silence. "I don't know. It's not like Dumbledore would tell me anyway."
Lucius arched an eyebrow slightly but didn't say anything. Harry finished chopping the celery before dumping both vegetables into a bowl and set the second pot of water to boil. He started chewing on his lip slightly as he reached into the cupboard and pulled down a package of pasta and setting it on the counter. So far, the chicken bones he had put in were boiling down to some stock and then he would start adding in the rest of the things.
When he turned around, he found Lucius poking through the vegetables with a mildly interested expression.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, walking to Lucius' side.
"What does it look like?" Lucius said before selecting a piece of carrot and eating it. It disappeared with a crisp crunch. "Hm.not bad."
Harry blinked a bit trying to not laugh as Lucius turned his attention to a piece of celery.
"Bleah!" Lucius made a face as he bit into the celery. "Merlin's beard, why is this thing so-"
"Tasteless?" Harry offered in an amused voice. "I'd imagine you've only had celery with salad dressing before."
Lucius made a slight face. "Shut up."
Harry simply chuckled and poked Lucius gently in the side. The blond scowled at Harry who simply smiled back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Apparently it wasn't enough for Lucius, who captured Harry's chin in his fingers and proceeded to give Harry a much more thorough kiss.
Severus was not in a good mood today; if he had a fully functioning voice at the moment, it would be sardonic to the point of savage cruelty. It was bad enough that Voldemort had to beat a hasty retreat from what was supposed to be his final victory over Dumbledore and was currently licking his wounds at the moment. But Voldemort still felt the need to have Severus spying on Dumbledore. And Dumbledore apparently needed Severus to keep close to Voldemort.
But today, Voldemort's rage had finally erupted over Lucius Malfoy's rather abrupt disappearance from the battlefield. And that rage had shown itself by Voldemort cursing any Death Eater at random with the Cruciatus. Simply seeing the expression on Voldemort's face when he had arrived at the meeting, he knew that the horrid sinking empty feeling he had had in the pit of his stomach had been completely justified.
It also didn't help that Potter had disappeared as well and no one seemed to know just where to. Potter seemed to cause him plenty of undue stress and aggravation. Hell, Voldemort's frustration at losing his best right-hand man was bad enough. Add on missing Potter, the one person whose blood he was baying for in one stroke, and you were simply asking to have Voldemort frothing madly at the mouth in a pure rage.
It was the reason why he now found himself stumbling up the front path, blinking madly, to the Hogwarts' main doors. How he was conscious, much less moving, after suffering the effects of the Cruciatus for so long and for so many times he wasn't sure. But he suddenly found himself thankful to Nott and his foreign connections; that's what had ended the pain. The last thing Severus remembered as he Disapparated was Voldemort's triumphant laughter. He was pretty sure he did something else as well before leaving, but it seemed to be a jumbled mess held together by the pain.
All he knew was that when he sagged against the door, his other hand fumbled for the handle and pushed, almost tumbling him to the floor.
"Severus?! Dear Merlin!"
He blinked and looked around, seeing Minerva rush forward. Wasn't she normally asleep by this time? Oh yes, Voldemort had done that rare thing of summoning him at an ungodly hour of the morning. No wonder he had been staggering up the path, blinking like an owl. He had bright revealing sun to contend with rather than cloaking night.
"Albus." he managed; his voice was raw and so hoarse it sounded like he said something else.
Minerva nodded her head and draped one of his arms over her shoulders, supporting him. Well, wasn't that just nice? If Severus wasn't liable to fall flat on his face, he would have stalked right off. He felt his feet moving up steps one by one and he could hear whispered hush of words echoing from all around him. Great, the snotty little brats had come to watch. He'd have to remember to dock some points from Gryffindor when he could again.
"All of you, back to your rooms now!" Minerva barked harshly.
If there was one sound that was always pleasing, it was the sound of feet scurrying away in fear.
"Severus, I'm going to take you to see Madame Pomfrey first," Minerva said heavily.
"No!" he croaked out, wincing as his throat seized up on him. "Albus. Now." He ground out, ignoring the sharp pains.
Minerva gave a sigh and nodded her head as they started up the stairs for the second floor. By the time they reached the gargoyle and Minerva had uttered 'Ice Mice', Severus wasn't sure exactly which way was up, down or left and right for that matter.
"Albus don't talk to him yet; his throat is too raw for it at the moment. I'm going to get Madame Pomfrey." Severus felt himself being stretched out on a rather soft surface and a dark fuzzy shape bending over him. If it that was Albus, Severus knew what he had to do: resign from this damned double life he was leading. No, that was for later. What was it that he had to tell Albus? He was sure it could wait until he had rested a bit, and so he closed his eyes.
"Dear Merlin, Minerva! Why didn't you bring him to me immediately?"
Severus dimly noted Poppy's voice before it started uttering a flurry of spells. He opened his eyes. Everything had stopped moving. Then he noticed the pain lessening, as well as a few distinct aches. Like his entire back. Or ribs. Not to mention his very-
"These are only temporary, Albus. Severus can say what he needs to then he's in the infirmary. Honestly Minerva." Poppy tutted as she tapped her wand impatiently against her arm.
"Severus," Albus said gently as he said down on the chaise. "I need you to tell me what happened at the meeting."
"Besides the Dark Lord frothing at the lips?" Severus said his lips thinned in cold anger. "That he was missing Lucius? Or that he didn't get to kill who he wanted, namely Potter?"
"Severus." Albus said a bit sadly in a weary voice.
Severus felt like gagging; how he got himself tangled with the meddlings of this manipulative old man, he knew all too well. And felt like kicking himself for it everyday. Yet, Albus did have his uses; such as exoneration.
"After a rather welcoming round of the Cruciatus." Severus paused, putting his thoughts together. Ah, he knew he had done something before Disapparating; a small bit of mugging and memory modification. "Nott decided to inform the Dark Lord as to a small lead he had discovered. And he was foolish enough to place it something very portable. Since none of us were privy to it, I felt it would be prudent to.take a look at it myself; away from the prying eyes of others." He reached into his pocket and drew out a small pensieve; one big enough for just one memory.
Minerva's eyes went wide. "What on Earth does he have stored in there?"
Severus shrugged. "Whatever it was though made the Dark Lord extremely happy. So I would guess that it has something to do with Lucius Malfoy or Potter."
Albus gave Severus a slightly stern look. "Thank you Severus. We too have been hard pressed trying to find Harry."
"I daresay. Do you know I caught Miss Granger and Mister Weasley attempting to break the code on some Order documents in my office?" Minerva said with a highly disapproving tone in her voice. "Of course, it was nothing pertinent, but still, we'll have to tell them something Albus; they're going frantic with worry. Not to mention a bit thin."
Albus nodded his head. "Tell them we have a lead and are looking into it. Make sure they don't hurt themselves Minerva."
She nodded her head curtly and hurried from the room. Severus suddenly found himself under Albus' gaze.
"Thank you Severus. This will undoubtedly help us find Harry. I just hope that he's all right."
"All right, that's quite enough. And don't you dare rise, Severus!" Poppy exclaimed, as she cast 'Mobilicorpus'. "In your condition, I refuse to have you walk and have Merlin knows what else happen to you."
Severus scowled his best as he found himself floating in the air on his back, moving in Poppy's wake as she started for the stairs. The last thing Severus saw was Albus giving him a grateful look as the office vanished from view. He scowled even more; hope that Potter was all right, indeed. Knowing the boy, he'd more than likely be doing something incredibly stupid at the moment and put himself at risk once more. Closing his eyes, Severus gave a slight huff; and he couldn't even give Potter a detention for it. Life certainly wasn't fair.
Harry gave a deep sigh, shifting against Lucius. Once everything had been put into the pot, all that was left was for it to cook slowly. That was why he found himself lounging against the couch, sprawled against Lucius and watching television. Lucius, on the other hand, was currently dozing off, blissfully unaware of the trashy soap opera playing out on the screen. Letting his eyes flicker to the clock, Harry saw the bright red hands of the clock resting at just past 5.
"Better go check on the soup," he mumbled to himself, sliding easily off the couch and walking into the kitchen with a stretch.
He opened the door to be greeted by a sudden rush of aroma. A smile came to Harry's face as he went to the stove and stirred the pot gently, taking down a few spices and adding them to the soup before placing the bottles within reach on the countertop. Their conversation had drifted out from the kitchen to the couch, where they sprawled out, Harry curled up against Lucius. He wasn't even sure when Lucius had drifted off but when he was suddenly greeted by silence, he looked up to find Lucius with his head resting on a pillow, sleeping peacefully. So Harry had reached for the remote, flicked on the television, turned the volume down low and found himself watching some program.
He gave a light chuckle as he covered the pot once more, leaving the lid cracked open and left to soup to simmer. It would be done in about 45 minutes. Just in time for dinner. At least they'd all be able to shake some of the damp chill that was seeping its way steadily into the house. Harry felt his face flush a bit; they had to pile extra blankets on the bed in order to keep warm. And while they kept them warm when sleeping, it was more than awkward dealing with the extra sheets when engaging in.nightly activities. Harry cleared his throat with a gentle cough as he made his way back to the living room and curled up beside Lucius on the couch, picking up the remote.
"What are you watching?" Lucius asked in a low husky voice.
"Hm?" Harry looked up to see sleep-fogged grey eyes. "Just some television; I think it's a soap opera."
"A soap opera?" Lucius asked an eyebrow quirking up.
"It's either that or the news." Harry replied. "Sleep well?"
"Yes," Lucius murmured, shifting so their hips came into contact. "Very well."
Harry's eyes widened as he looked back at Lucius in disbelief; he was already half hard. "I didn't think it possible, but you're hornier than me! We were barely able to get up in time for breakfast this morning!" he paused for a moment. "You just woke up!" he sputtered.
"You have that effect on me," Lucius purred, sliding a hand over Harry's shoulder and down his arm.
"Lucius!" Harry hissed as he felt a hand smooth over his stomach. "What if they walk in?!"
"They're fast asleep upstairs, aren't they?" Lucius nudged his nose in a sensitive spot behind Harry's ear. Harry had to bite his lip quickly to stop his sudden gasp. "And we'll hear them coming down the stairs."
"But, Lucius." the rest of Harry's words melted into a little groan as Lucius slipped his hand underneath the plain white t-shirt, stroking his skin.
"Perhaps an exercise in.restraint? Lucius asked, moving his lips down Harry's neck.
Harry swallowed a bit, already tilting his head slightly to give Lucius easier access. This was a bit different; it wasn't some snotty little bureaucrat he wanted to show up. This was Ernesto and Valencia. But despite his misgivings, he could already feel tendrils of excitement curling through him. They could walk down here at any time and-
His brain suddenly found it hard to think as Lucius slipped a hand down his pants. Harry took a deep steadying breath as Lucius' fingertips skirted the dark curls pooled around his cock, moving to stroke his hips.
"Lucius." he managed quietly, shifting a bit as his own cock started responding rapidly.
"Very good," Lucius murmured, sliding his hand back down, moving through the hairs. "Now what should-"
Harry froze as he heard a creak from upstairs. Even Lucius has paused before he continued to move his hand at what seemed to be a frustratingly slow pace. Harry was just propping himself up when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs rather rapidly. He closed his eyes, cursing under his breath; couldn't they get a break in here? He heard the footsteps thundering into the kitchen, and he leaning back against the couch. Lucius simply smiled slightly at him, fingers moving downwards to-
// Which one of you is it?! \\ Valencia thundered. // Who dared to cook in my kitchen?! \\
Harry bit his lip hard, looking at Lucius pleadingly. Lucius simply gave him a look that said he'd better talk to Valencia. And so Harry struggled to sit up, finally folding and resting his arms on the chair as he stood on his knees.
// It was you? \\ Valencia asked her eyes narrowed as she stood imperiously in the doorway.
// Yes. I started dinner. I didn't want to- \\ he stopped talking abruptly as Lucius' fingers moved against him. Harry took a deep breath fighting back the blush that threatened to rise to his face. // To wake you up. \\ He finished.
Valencia didn't say anything for a moment, looking at him critically. // What's wrong with you? \\ she demanded a bit sharply.
// Foot's asleep, \\ Harry said simply, as Lucius continued to move his hand languidly. Harry was finding himself hard pressed to not thrust into it.
// When I am gone for extended periods, I don't mind it if you use my kitchen, \\ Valencia started. // But when I'm here, simply let me do the cooking. I have a very particular system in my kitchen. \\
Harry nodded his head mutely, struggling to keep the composure on his face. Valencia regarded him for a moment.
// How much time is left until dinner is done? \\
// About 40 minutes, \\ Harry said in a slightly ragged voice.
// Are you sure you're all right? \\ Valencia looked at him curiously.
// Perfectly fine, \\ Harry said after clearing his throat.
// You don't seem to be fine, \\ Valencia narrowed her eyes and took a step forward.
Harry managed to feign a sigh. The last thing he needed was to have Valencia see that Lucius had a hand down Harry's pants. // I was just heading into the kitchen. I still need to put back the spices. \\
// My spices?! \\ Valencia halted immediately. // You haven't put back my spices? \\
Valencia's voice sounded so dangerous at the moment, Harry wasn't sure how to respond.
// Well.um.no; I heard a sound in the living room and came to see what it was. That's when you went into the kitchen. They're still out on the counter. \\
Valencia looked at the kitchen door a bit horror-struck. // My kitchen is my baby. Absolutely no fiddling around in there again, when I am here. Understood? \\
// Understood, \\ Harry said with a stretch. // I'm going to head upstairs and take a shower before dinner, all right? \\
Valencia nodded at him before she disappeared into the kitchen, discontent mumbles streaming behind her. As soon as the kitchen door closed, Harry yanked Lucius' hand out of his pants, grabbed his wrist and started dragging him up the stairs.
"May I ask what the rush is?" Lucius asked lazily when they reached the top landing.
Harry simply grinned back at him before dragging him to their bedroom, and shutting the door firmly.
