(A/N) Happy New Year!!!! I've been ill over Christmas- which sucks but I'm used to it. I'm ill every year, but anyway it gave me more time to think about this story- and how I'm going to end it. It's probably safe to say it won't be the ending you have been expecting/ hoping for. Anyways- as always- REVIEW!!!!

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CHAPTER SEVEN: No More Gazing Across The Wasted Years

Every traveller in the dark

Thanks you for your tiny spark,

How could he see where to go

If you did not twinkle so?

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Severus sat at his desk in the Potions classroom of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before him sat his class of fifth year Slytherin and Gryffindor students. They were mixing a truth potion and Severus had split them into pairs of his own choosing. At the desk nearest his own sat Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter- both bickering over some random and unimportant thing.

Severus allowed himself a small smile as he studied their faces. They were both so young- there was still so much life before them. Perhaps he had been wrong about Draco, he thought as he studied the blonde boy's face. There was so much of Lucius in him; perhaps he too just needed to find someone- someone to save him.

Lucius. Severus had left him that morning at Malfoy Manor- the morning he had arranged for Remus to visit. Of course Lucius knew nothing of this, Severus had been concentrating on helping him feel better- feel stronger. Voldemort had not visited since Lucius's suicide attempt and as Lucius himself said- this was odd. However, Severus could not help but hope that Voldemort would never visit again. But perhaps that was too much to ask for.

As the class packed up and tidied away their equipment Draco approached his desk nervously. "Professor?" he asked, "My father tried to kill himself didn't he?"

Severus was silent, lost for words he simply stared at the boy.

"Everyone knows." Draco said simply. "It was in the paper. Mother says it's because father is weak. Is that true?"

"No…no." Severus croaked. "That is not true. Your father is not weak- he is stronger than you know."

Draco studied him, a ghost of his father at fifteen. Then a small smile graced the boy's lips. "I never thought he was weak." He said before turning and leaving the classroom, the heavy door banging shut behind him.

Severus sat silently- he had never before realised just how fragile Draco was. He had not been able to keep Lucius from Voldemort's clutches but now, he vowed, he would keep Draco safe.

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Remus opened the double windows in his room at the Black house. Outside the birds sang sweetly from the rooftops as a light, misty rain fell gently to the ground. He sighed and stretched a bare arm out to feel the rain, it caressed his skin and Remus smiled. The rain felt fresh- perhaps today really was the time for a fresh start.

The smile still firmly on his face Remus pulled on a pair of worn jeans and a white shirt that he had borrowed from Sirius's wardrobe. He had thrown all his own clothes out intending to buy some new stuff, a change was needed and that applied to his wardrobe as well. However, at that point he seemed to be in between wardrobes and so Sirius had agreed to share his clothes. Although they were slightly big Sirius's clothes were much nicer than Remus's old rags and so he was happy- for the moment- to be sharing.

Dragging a brush through his honey and silver hair Remus studied himself in the mirror. Of course he was scared. Talking, really talking, to Lucius after all this time was going to be hard. He had no idea what Lucius's reaction to him would be although if what Severus had said was true…..

Remus sighed, he could still remember the pain and humiliation he had felt when Lucius had thrown him down the stairs after rejecting him harshly. It was true that one event could change your whole life- his life had been anything but happy so far but it was far from over. Maybe now he could change his future for the better, maybe he could save himself once more, save himself and save Lucius.

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Lucius sat at his desk in his study, examining his still bandaged wrists. The sheets on his bed were still red with blood; Narcissa had not even bothered to have them washed. Lucius frowned, his white-gold hair falling in waves over his shoulder.

Suddenly the door flew open and Narcissa entered the room, an angry look on her pointed face. "Well." She said. "I see you're back. What did you think you were doing? Huh? Lucius? What sort of example did you think you were setting for our son? Do you want everyone to see how weak you are? I honestly don't know why Voldemort favours you, you're pathetic, a disgrace to the family gone bef…"

"SHUT UP!" Lucius screamed, pushing his chair backwards roughly and standing. "I never asked you to come here, I never, ever asked for you! I HATE YOU! Do you hear that? My Wife…wife..hah! I have never loved you and as such I am no longer going to put up with your stupid parties, your whiny nagging and your mere, irritating presence! NOW GET OUT!"

Narcissa's face paled beneath her make-up and she fled the room in a flurry of satin and perfume.

Worn out, Lucius collapsed back into his chair and ran his hand through his long hair. It seemed now, at a time when his body was most weak his mind was growing stronger. However, as much as he could now shout at Narcissa he was still unsure that he would be able to defend himself against Voldemort should he return to….well.

As he looked around the room, taking in its elegant décor and mountains of books, Lucius felt empty. He still needed Remus. He knew it- when he had slit his wrists, as the blood had flowed and he had seen his own dead body he had wanted, above all things, to live and to be whole again. Remus could do that for him, but…perhaps, he thought, perhaps it was already too late.

Still, there must have been a reason why he did not die; perhaps it was not God's intention to let him die just yet. That meant that there was still hope; that maybe everything would turn out okay. That he would have a happy ending after all.

In the silence he heard the Butler answer the door downstairs in the entrance hall. Lucius sighed- it was probably one of Narcissa's friends come to gossip about the latest scandals- Lucius had no doubt that he had been the subject of gossip in the past week although Narcissa had probably tried to hush it up. Lucius didn't care anyway- let them gossip- it didn't change anything.

Suddenly he heard a knock at the study door.

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Remus fiddled with the cuffs of his shirt as he stood outside the study of the Malfoy Manor. The Butler had shown him to the door of the room, explaining that Master Malfoy was most likely in there.

Taking a deep breath he reached out and knocked.

"Yes?" called a voice from within.

Remus swallowed and tried to contain his nerves, his pale hand grasped the doorknob and he twisted it, felling the cold metal burn his palm. As the door swung open Remus took a deep breath.

There, in the centre of the room, sitting at a rather grand old desk was Lucius Malfoy- white-gold hair falling over his shoulders and a shocked expression on his delicately elegant face. Remus searched the silver eyes for a moment- examining and drowning in their depths.

"Here I am." he managed to say. "Here I am, standing in your doorway…..like I've always been standing in your doorway."

Lucius rose, his thin body emerging from behind the desk and making its way over to Remus who stood with a small, wistful smile on his lips. Lucius looked pale and weak in his black shirt and jeans but the expression in his wide silver eyes was one of strength and life.

"Remus." He said, his pale hand reaching out tentatively.

"Yes." Remus said as he felt the elegant fingers ghost across his cheek. "It's me."

Lucius was still looking at him as if he were a spirit- perhaps sent to haunt him. "I'm sorry." The blonde man said, "All this- it's my fault- but Remus, I never meant it to happen. That night of the Halloween ball- I meant to be there but my father had left a portkey. Voldemort….he…he, well he….I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Remus smiled and let out a choked laugh, "It's alright Lucius. I should never have given up like I did."

For a moment both men were silent and then Lucius's pale fingers wrapped themselves in Remus's thick hair as he pulled him closer. "Forgive me." He whispered before capturing the other man in an almost desperate kiss.

(A/N) Not the end! Not the end!!! Definetly not the end! Please review!!!