[A/N – Another chapter. :-) I really haven't got much to say. Oh, except thanking my reviewers.

SlytherinGoth87 – Had a very nice vacation, thanks. :-) And glad you enjoy the story.

DARKMARK33LV – Hehe, I'm happy to get any reviews. I write for me and post for y'all. :-) But I'm really flattered. Thanks!

nathalie – Thanks, and I've gone on. :-p

xikum – You are cool because you're a critical reader. :-) And while you're right on all counts, well, Lucius has his own agenda to pursue. Harry hasn't really come to terms with the prophecy yet, and Lucius's alternative is looking super-tempting in comparison. Lucius knows this, and is exploiting it shamelessly. Don't worry, he knows what he's doing. :-)

lonlyheart – Are the chapters really that short? In my original version I had fifteen. And in most of these chapters I combined two of the old ones, hehe. So yeah, I guess they are. But if it gets too long, I think both me and my readers get bored and start to lose the goal of the story. I'm trying to update often to compensate!

Bound-to-Evanesce – No, not nearly enough LMHP fics around here. (Although you might want to check out Furor Scribiendi if you haven't already for more of the same. No, I was not paid to say that :-) ) I'm glad you like it, though.

KAT15 – Thanks. :-)

uten – Hehe, you very nearly missed it. I was about to upload this and checked my email on a whim, and there was my review alert. As for the prophecy being false, hm. I hadn't ever considered that before. But that wouldn't be much of a prophecy, would it? :-p No, as I mentioned before (not that I expect you to read other people's comments…) Harry hasn't come to terms with the prophecy yet, I don't think. Lucius knows this, and exploits it by offering him an alternative. I'm glad you like it, and here's more!

And, as always, I'm a review whore. So please give me feedback if you appreciated it! (or not, even. :-p)]

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It was nine AM before Harry rose from bed. No doubt, Lucius thought with a smile, trying to avoid him. He half-listened, still somewhat concentrated on his book. The boy got in the shower, then dressed. And finally, he heard footsteps descending the stairs. Lucius put the book down and got up, leaning against the wooden doorframe casually.

"Good morning, Harry," he greeted the boy as he turned the corner.

Harry twirled in the direction of Lucius's voice. "You," he said coldly.

"Me," Lucius agreed.

"Why are you still here?"

Lucius fought back a smile; he had been right. "I haven't got to go to the Ministry today," he informed Harry.

"Oh." Harry entered the dining room – Lucius followed – snatched a piece of buttered toast off a platter, and ate it vacantly.

"You're brooding again," Lucius observed.

"I am not brooding," Harry snapped after swallowing the bread.

"You are. What are you angsting over now?" Lucius asked. Harry didn't answer, but instead stalked through the hall, threw open the door, and stalked outside. Lucius trailed him. "Harry, stop."

"You can't kiss me again, if that's what you're hoping for," Harry said shortly as he continued down the path to the lake.

Lucius laughed. "Is that all? You're overreacting."

"I think my reaction is perfectly justified." They reached the lake and Harry had a seat on a flat expanse of stone overlooking the clear water. Lucius sat next to him, despite the look Harry gave him as he did so.

"You're blowing it out of proportion," Lucius told him.

Harry picked up a stone and tossed it into the lake; they both watched as the ripples shimmered outward until they reached the shore. "I think my reaction is justified," he repeated stubbornly.

"Have you ever been kissed before?" Lucius asked.

Harry looked up in momentary surprise. "Yes."

"Like that?" he pressed on.

Harry squirmed. "Does it matter?"

"I'm interested," Lucius replied coolly. "Or perhaps you need a reminder." He pulled Harry closer to himself and ducked his head, kissing him again.

The boy didn't struggle, but pressed hesitantly into the kiss. In response, Lucius ran his fingers through the boy's dark, messy hair and pushed his lips apart with his tongue. He tasted warm, like butter and forbidden sex. Lucius pulled back gently into a more chaste kiss. Harry disentangled himself and pulled back. His cheeks were flushed and there was a slightly incredulous look in his bright eyes. He didn't speak, but instead smoothed his hair in that now-familiar motion.

"So how did I compare?" Lucius asked lightly.

"I can't believe I did that," Harry muttered.

"Oh, but you did," Lucius told him. "And you quite enjoyed it." He smoothed the front of his robe. "You know, Potter, for all the noise you make about it, I don't think you hate me nearly as much as you think you do," he said.

"Maybe not," Harry agreed neutrally. He scooped up a handful of pebbles up from the ground and tossed them into the lake idly. "Mr. Malfoy?"

"Lucius," he corrected.

"Lucius." He could tell that the name didn't fit well in Harry's mouth, but the boy continued. "I've been thinking a lot recently - "

Lucius's lips curled into a smile. "You haven't got to tell me that."

Harry ignored him. "I've been thinking about what you said. About the dark arts." Lucius leaned forward, resting his head in one palm. "And I want to learn."

"It's not whether you want to learn the dark arts," Lucius told him, "but whether you're willing to become a Death Eater in exchange for my instruction."

"I am," Harry replied, less eagerly.

Lucius pursed his lips. "Alright. We'll begin this evening."

"And when do I...?" Harry broke off, but Lucius saw how he had pushed up his left sleeve and was tracing a pattern upon his skin, as though to get used to the idea of having the Dark Mark.

"Later," Lucius told him dismissively. "The Dark Lord is busy at the moment."

"With what? I got the feeling he dedicated his life to plotting ways to killing me."

Lucius sighed. "Not quite. And you'd best learn to control that attitude," he warned as he rose from his place on the rock, "or you'll get killed."

Harry shrugged. "I'm only being honest."

"The Dark Lord only tolerates honesty when it's something he wants to hear," Lucius said wearily. "But I have things that need to be done. Don't expect me at lunch, but I'll join you for dinner."

Lucius left, but looked over his shoulder when he heard Harry picking up pebbles and tossing them into the water, one at a time. And after each he stopped and watched the ripples disturb the otherwise-calm water around it.

---

Lucius avoided Harry for much of the day. Of course, he had a legitimate excuse, and Harry was not expecting to see him, but Lucius's stomach had a horrible tendency to get twisted into a knot when he heard the boy's footsteps anywhere near his office. This morning had gone better than he had anticipated. Lord that boy could kiss. I wonder where he got his practice, Lucius thought idly as a half-smile crossed his face.

But he stopped at six-thirty, his hesitance to see Harry again be damned. He pulled the door open and was smoothing his hair when he heard, to his right, "You look fine, don't worry about it."

Lucius glanced over. Harry, of course. "Thank you, Potter, but I didn't require your input."

"Fine, then," Harry said sulkily, his eyes narrowing at the sudden cold attitude.

"Shall we?" Lucius asked formally, motioning to the dining room. He started in that direction and Harry followed.

They sat down opposite each other as they had last night. "Are you positive that you want to go through with this?" Lucius asked as they ate.

"Yes."

"And you aren't planning to learn the dark arts and then turn around and use them against me?" Lucius asked with a small smile.

"No."

"Right," Lucius said briskly. "You'll be taught the basics of the dark arts now, and you'll be made a Death Eater before the end of your holiday. We will, of course, take extra precautions to keep Dumbledore - " he said the name with a sneer " - from finding out."

"And if he does?" Harry pressed.

"He won't," Lucius answered shortly. "However, I must warn you, you would be in a prime position to work against him. So that will be a major task of yours, compiling information to be used against Dumbledore."

Harry didn't look so sure of himself now. "But..." he began desperately, "I don't want him dead. I just...."

"Harry," Lucius said harshly, "do you really think you can choose what you will and will not do for the Dark Lord? Once you're a Death Eater you're subject to carry out any whim he may have. Now are you sure you want to go through with this? I'm warning you now, it will be too late to back out later."

Harry looked up and Lucius noted a gleam in his eye. "I'll do it," he said quietly.

"That's good," Lucius replied amiably. He finished eating and pushed away his plate. "I'll be in the library," he told Harry, who nodded. "Once you're finished we'll get started." He strode off, his mind scheming of just what he was going to corrupt Potter with. In more ways than one.