A/N: I know this chapter is horribly late! My computer is messed up - as in freezing whenever it starts up - so I have to use my friend's comp [Jeffy's been very good about me stealing his computer for a few days at a time] or school lab comps when I am on campus. Like right now. ^.^ For now, I'm just gonna be posting it here on FanFiction.net when I can. I plan on posting on my website when I get to chapter 8, and will post all the other chapters at there at the same time too. My friend should be attempting to fix my comp around May 17th, 18th, somewhere in that week. Here's hoping he can fix it. *crosses fingers*
Decided to do a little background research into landscaped gardens and different species of flowers, just in case I have to mention the gardens in greater detail later on in the fic. I quite literally choked on my bite of doughnut when I came across a flower called celosia, which is commonly known as cockscomb. Needless to say the first image that popped into my mind had nothing to do with the comb on a rooster. Hm...come to think of it, there was no comb at all with the image that popped into my head......my mind is so in the gutter; in the very bottom of the gutter, hahaha. Oh well, just replies and then read.
Lyla Malfoy: Updated! Harry/Lucius action is coming I can guarantee you that. I'll even tell you how many chapters are left until that happens. After this one…four. Don't quote me on that though…because I get confused and don't know whether to count the chapter that it's in or not. ^.^;;
SiLvErFaTeD: More developments come forth. Really working on plot for this one. And I mean really.
MustIBeAMalfoy: Nope, I don't mind at all. I usually affix - chan or -kun to my friends names so, it's all good. Yeah, I know, poor Hermione…*shakes head* and poor Harry and poor Snape.
innocent2004: Glad you like it. Don't mean to be mean but, you're gonna have to wait and find out.
Immortal Memories: Perhaps…*strokes chin* Nope. No, no Severus pursuing Harry in this fic. No Snarry in this fic. Sorry to burst you bubble…if you had a bubble.
Bookworm: Yes, I know. And some decidedly more peculiar things will happen between them, I can tell you that much. Haha, confess to Snape about his affair with Lucius over Earl Grey tea…that's a rather amusing mental image. I know, even I'm getting kinda anxious and I'm writing the fic. I'm just on the cusp [paper copy]…and then……*makes rolling motions with hands*
Final Spell: Lucius and Harry get together. I'm giving you the same number I gave Lyla Malfoy: four.
Lusiki-Thanatos: Thank you! *goes red* I'll do my best to get the chapters done and posted…just need my comp back! I miss talking to people on MSN every night.
Plastraa: I completely agree! Snogging commences!! lol I wish….*sigh* Don't worry; no Snarry here. Just Harry/Lucius goodness. I should hope you won't bean me with Lucius' pimp cane unless absolutely necessary. I need all the brain cells I can get. I'm in university! I gotta pull the wool over their eyes somehow! So I can write more for this fic! lol Hm…speaking of canes, I found an awesome dragon headed one that's just plain wicked….damn I need money…I want my own pimp cane, dang it! lol
Come the Maëlstrom
Chapter Four
This had to be, by far, the worst week Lucius had suffered in his life. The title of 'The week from Hell' seemed like a very close approximation for it. His manor had been subjected to three surprise visits, not just the one Severus had warned him about. And all the searches had produced was nothing. Mr. Borgin from Borgin & Burkes had been thorough and left no evidence behind. And while his home had been picked apart, the Dark Lord had summoned him to find out if anything new had happened at Hogwarts. Having heard nothing from Draco yet, Lucius had been forced to tell the Dark Lord he needed a bit more time to be sure of his observations and what his son was saying; one couldn't be too careful when crafting a plan like this. Thankfully, the Dark Lord had bought that, and it gave Lucius a bit more extra time. And when he'd come back home, he'd found the Ministry officials leaving with rather smug expressions on their faces. It hadn't taken him long to discover the first of many magical eavesdropping devices.
Needless to say, it was nothing short of a miracle that Lucius had anything left that could be remotely called a nerve.
Now he found himself sitting behind his study desk, absently listening to Narcissa bemoan the fact that their good name was being dragged through the mud by the insipid Ministry fools. Narcissa's voice had a very soporific effect today and he found his mind wandering from her words in order to remain awake. His eyes focused on some point just past her so it appeared that he was watching her. His mind however was far away from his study. It wandered back to sun warmed Spanish hills with a gentle breeze, covered in soft fragrant grass and Harry's warm laughter as they lay beside one another. Harry had started playing with Lucius' hand out of boredom, tracing the network of tendons and muscles down to the fingertips, commenting on the wonderful way it felt and how he liked the feel of the slight calluses against his skin when they-
"Are you even listening to me Lucius?"
Lucius looked up blandly at Narcissa. Oh yes; his wife was prattling on. "I've yet to hear anything useful in your mindless babble."
"Mindless babble?" Narcissa fumed. "Simply because I worry about our good social standing does not mean…"
Lucius automatically tuned her voice out once more. He normally didn't let Narcissa into his study, as it was his haven from her. But she'd asked to speak to him earlier on. And even he wasn't sure why he let her in. That pathetically wretched tone she used didn't help much. Now it was nigh on three hours and she was obviously not done yet. His mind had just drifted back to Harry when his eyes wandered to the clock. It was almost 6; blast.
"Really," he said abruptly cutting Narcissa off. "Is there a particular reason why you choose to plague me this afternoon?"
Narcissa looked at him for a moment with a frown. "Did you take care of…everything?"
"I am far from incompetent." Lucius replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.
How foolish was this woman? Those Ministry fools had insisted he and Narcissa be absent in order for them to 'perform their search more efficiently and quickly'. Salazar knew how many more listening devices were still left after his initial purge of the house. That one alone had yielded almost a hundred of the small, shrunken things.
"But Lucius-" Narcissa began.
"I believe that is enough of that," he said briskly. "I have made dinner plans, so I suggest you keep yourself occupied and out of my way. Out of the manor would be better."
Narcissa's lips thinned as her face tightened slightly. "In this house?"
"That's why I asked you to keep yourself occupied or to leave." Lucius said in a bored voice as he rose from his chair, fixing the cuffs of his robes.
"And may I enquire as to who it is?"
Lucius gave Narcissa an amused look; so she wanted to size up her competition. Too bad, she would never lay eyes on her true competition. Tonight would work twofold for him. He just had to trust that Harry had faith in him.
"Quite frankly, it doesn't concern you," he began. "And now, I will kindly ask you to get remove yourself from my study. You tire me out and not in a remotely good way."
"You should find it to be no small wonder why our marriage is the way it is."
"Indeed. There are many reasons. I think the main one is the fact that you're nothing more than a vapid, empty-headed woman who only schemes to keep the Malfoy name and all that goes with it."
Narcissa wasn't thrilled by that. "At least I'm not as half as vain as you are." She retorted in a rather childish manner.
"Ah, my dear wife," Lucius said mockingly. "Narcissistic I may be but I am far from ignorant. You seem to confuse to two, and really shouldn't."
"And you seem to think me a fool who will be easily ousted from my current position." Narcissa sneered.
Lucius gave a derisive chuckle. "And you seem to think far too highly of yourself. If I wished it, I could be rid of you this very moment."
"As do you, Lucius." Narcissa replied. "And you may find it difficult to be rid of me."
"That I do seriously doubt," Lucius stated. "My opinion of myself is well-founded. Yours is nothing more than foolish pretensions."
"Hmph," Narcissa spun on her heel and strode to the door. "It is no small wonder why my bed remains gratefully empty of your presence." She spat out in a seething voice.
"Because Nature thankfully saw fit to not endow you with certain attributes; you would be a rather," Lucius paused for a moment, looking at her. "Grotesque man."
The study door closed with a loud slam and Lucius found the corners of his lips curling up into an amused smile. He had forgotten just how easy it was to bait Narcissa. And just how much fun it could be to torment her. At least he would be able to have a small bit of fun in future.
The garden was nice at this time of the year. It wasn't too hot or cold, and there was a pleasant breeze passing through. Lucius liked his garden. He may be a complicated man, but the simplicities of the garden was aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and soothing to the mind. It was the perfect spot for this. The house elves had set up a dining pavilion for two alone in a semi-secluded section of the garden, where a few windows from the house would be visible from either side of the small table. He quickly cast a Silencing spell around the tent; it wouldn't do for Narcissa to be lurking around the hedges and hear every word uttered. There, perfect.
This was the only suitable spot since Lucius had gone over the gardens with a painstaking thoroughness and removed every single hidden and shrunken listening device planted there. He sat on a bench close to the pavilion as he waited for Severus to arrive. The dark man had said he would be here at 6 promptly. And Severus had yet to be late for an appointment.
"So beautiful…" Lucius murmured softly to himself as he regarded the camellia flowers.
"What?"
Lucius' eyes flickered to the source of the question to find himself looking at Severus, who stood there with his customary scowl. Lucius wasn't sure if the man knew any other expression.
"How good of you to come," Lucius said easily, rising from his seat as he gestured to the pavilion. "Shall we?"
Severus didn't say anything as they made their way to the table and sat down. Lucius glanced at the windows for a moment; there was no Narcissa spying yet. No matter. He'd just have to pay attention to see her skulking around the glass. Turning his attention back to Severus, he took in the scowl with a shrewd guess as the start of their dinner appeared before them. He only wore this particular scowl after sharing the company of one person.
"And what has Potter done to vex you now?" he asked quietly, pouring the wine into the fluted glasses.
"What makes you think it was Potter?" Severus snapped, glaring at Lucius momentarily.
"No one else makes you scowl so," Lucius replied evenly. "Not even that senile old fool you work for."
Severus didn't say anything for a moment. "That's none of your business." He replied curtly and picked up his fork to start on the salad.
"Au contraire," Lucius said as he shifted to make himself more comfortable. "Something must be going on."
"You watch my back and I watch yours?" Severus sneered.
"In a manner of speaking," Lucius paused for a moment, taking a sip of his wine. "I do have information that could be considered very valuable and useful, considering your place in the order of things."
Lucius turned his attention to his own salad now as Severus remained silent, working away at his own. The momentary flash in Severus' dark eyes had been so rapid and fleeting that Lucius wasn't too sure what to make of it. Nothing more was said for a while as they finished off their salads and the empty bowls vanished away to make room for the main course.
"I didn't come here to suffer a veiled interrogation," Severus said after eating a good bit of his chicken. "You apparently wanted to…discuss something with me."
"Yes. The rather curious results of that potion you gave me."
Severus regarded Lucius for a moment. "You can't tell me that it didn't work the way it was supposed to."
"No, I can't tell you," Lucius began. "Since you never told me what to expect in the first place."
A look of sheer incredulity planted itself firmly on Severus' face. "Do you mean to tell me," he said after a few awkward moments. "That you've never taken a mind-alternant before?"
"And just what exactly are you implying?" Lucius said in a frosty voice; he knew full well what Severus wasn't saying, or calling him to his face.
"Why, nothing," Severus said innocently. "I just find it very surprising that you, of all wizards, haven't taken one."
"I may be corrupted and debauched," Lucius said dryly. "But I prefer to keep my wits intact and not subject them to…that."
"As you say," Severus gave a snort that said he clearly thought otherwise. "But you should have felt something."
"Enlighten me." Lucius didn't like this situation and it was less and less by the moment.
Severus mused for a moment. "You may have felt some light-headedness."
"No."
"No? A tingling sensation?"
"No."
"A peculiar fascination with mundane, everyday objects? Or body parts?"
"No."
"An urge to suddenly philosophize about life and its intricacies in general."
"No."
"A strange sense of elation or euphoria?"
"No."
"An inexplicable urge to laugh or giggle rather hysterically at the slightest thing?"
"Enough." Lucius ground out.
"What?" Severus asked with a slightly smug look on his face. "The potion I gave you is essentially a mind-alternant and it could produce any one of those side effects."
"Since you are insistent on this subject," Lucius said in a very unamused tone. "None of the results typical of a mind-alternant happened to me. That goes for effects as well."
"Then you'll have to tell me exactly what happened," Severus said as he started stroking his chin with his forefinger, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Tell me word for word what happened when you ingested it."
"I drank it. I went down my throat to my stomach." Lucius said. "That was it."
"That was it?" Severus echoed.
"I drank it and nothing happened. I may have swallowed water or wine instead, for all the good that did. Anything else would have tasted better too."
"You just drank it and nothing occurred?"
"Yes, I drank it and nothing happened." Lucius repeated in an irritated voice. "How many times and ways do you wish for me to phrase it?"
"Hm, how odd," Severus murmured, losing himself in thought for a few moments. "And what happened when you were summoned by the Dark Lord?"
"He decided to pry in my mind," Lucius said. "And he certainly wasn't happy by the end of it all."
"Hm…"
Lucius found himself enshrouded in silence once more as Severus became lost in his thoughts with his brow furrowed and mouth drawn in tightly. With a sigh, he turned his attention back to his dinner. Severus could be entirely unresponsive when he became, what Lucius liked to call, the analytical introvert.
"Well, it sounds as if it worked," Severus declared after a few moments. "But I'm finding it to be rather curious that you experienced nothing after ingesting the potion. The answer more than likely lies in your physiology."
Lucius managed to stifle his groan. Severus had continued studying after Hogwarts for five years at Avalon Academia, and what had he specialized in - potions and their effects on Wizard physiology and magic. Severus was essentially a bloody Healer that made you drink stuff. He really didn't want to be subjected to a long boring lecture on this subject.
"If you can keep this simple for some who don't know the jargon…" Lucius looked at Severus.
"Your background…" Severus said simply.
Lucius arched an eyebrow; who was Severus to order him like that? Thankfully for Severus, Lucius wanted an answer as to why the potion didn't quite work as it was supposed to.
"I think it's rather obvious don't you? Pureblood all the way back to the very beginnings of the Malfoy family; but since I know what you really mean, I had a great-great-great grandmother who was Veela."
Severus nodded his head, still lost in thought. "That may have something to do with it. Veela traits tend to stay active through generations. This problem can occur in people with traits passed down through the parents. "
"Mother," Lucius corrected easily.
"Only the mother side…" Severus was becoming more and more engrossed in puzzling this out. "Quite interesting."
"Need I remind you," Lucius said. "That I am not your little experiment."
"Hm," Severus' eyes flickered to him with a highly disagreeing look. "Of course I'll do some research and let you know. I may have to brew another custom batch for you to ensure that the full effects of the potion are felt."
"Let me guess, no casting of complex spells once ingested?" Lucius asked dryly.
"With the batch I'll have to brew you that would be advisable." Severus turned back to his chicken and finished off the last few bites.
Lucius inclined his head finishing off the last of the chicken and small potatoes as he glanced at the house. He could barely make out Narcissa's form by a curtain, peering out into the garden in their direction. If Narcissa found out Harry was his new lover, she'd more than likely stop at nothing and use everything in her power to get rid of him once she found out. Or she just might die of shock. But either way Harry wouldn't be pleased with suffering a messy little affair. He slid his hand across the table, resting it on top of Severus' relaxed one.
The effect was instantaneous. Severus froze in midchew before he swallowed, glaring at Lucius.
"What the blazes?!" Severus sputtered, looking at his hand and then at Lucius, as if the blond had lost it completely.
"Come now," Lucius said in a quiet tone. "We wouldn't want Narcissa to think we weren't enjoying ourselves."
"Look," Severus began in an exasperated tone. "I-"
Lucius knew exactly what was coming. This would be interesting, keeping Severus off kilter. "I need you Severus." He said quietly as he looked intently at the other man, linking their fingers together.
"What?!" Severus shrieked.
Lucius gripped Severus' hand as he made a jerking motion to snatch it away. Thank Salazar he had cast that Silencing spell. Severus' shriek of indignation would have definitely been heard from the house. He watched as Severus started sputtering out gibberish. Of course, it more than likely wasn't gibberish; it was just that Severus didn't know what to say first and far too many things were more than likely swirling around in his incensed mind.
"Are you quite done now?" Lucius asked in a calm and slightly amused voice.
"What the bloody hell do you need me for?!" Severus finally managed to spit out, his face red and flustered as he scowled heartily at Lucius.
"The Dark Lord has come up with a plan. It's in the early stages, but your…expertise and connections are needed for this.
Severus narrowed his eyes slightly as he regarded Lucius for a long moment. "And what exactly does the Dark Lord expect of me?"
"He doesn't know I asked you; nor will he," Lucius paused for a moment. "I would like to see a plan come to fruition."
Severus gave him a peculiar look. "'A plan'? Don't you mean the Dark Lord's plan?"
"I mean a plan," Lucius repeated pointedly. "And that is why I need you." He drew his hand away from Severus', reclining slightly in his seat.
Severus didn't say anything for another long moment. "I think it's time I left. I have a mountain of work waiting for me at Hogwarts." He rose from his seat.
"I'll walk you to the doors." Lucius said, rising from his own as well.
They walked silently into the manor to the front doors. Lucius watched as Severus opened the front door; he had already seen Narcissa lurking at the corner of the second floor, looking down to the foyer. Lucius leaned in, to whisper into Severus ear.
"We both know sharing is not my forte. Don't be a fool and leave this chance to pass; it's the one chance some people would love to have."
Severus barely gave him a second glance as he walked out and closed the door behind him. It was a few minutes later that Lucius heard the faint 'crack' of an Apparation through the door. He smirked silently to himself as he heard Narcissa' not so quiet steps slink away to another part of the house. He watched the door a bit longer before he turned around and made his way up to his study. The Quaffle wasn't in his hands any more.