A/N: I am sincerely sorry of the wait and I do apologise. I know it's not fun to be reading a fic and then no chapter is posted for what seems like forever. Late November and all of December has been hellish and hectic for me, with midterms, essays, exams, work, Christmas dinners and finally Christmas shopping and just getting my bearings again. Then the first version of this chapter was lost due to the reformatting I had to perform on my computer. However, considering the fact that I wasn't happy with the first version of the chapter and life stepped right in, I took it as a sign. I rewrote it and I'm much happier with it now. Chapters should be posted a bit more regularly come January, say one every three weeks to a month, since I'll only have three courses to deal with rather than five. Never doing that again.

You know the usual. Smut ain't posted here. Posted at foreverfandom, my LJ and my website.

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The issue with the formatting for the "Spanish" text has been finally addressed. All Spanish text now has a little dash like so: - . Sorry that it took me so long. I'm pretty sure that I got it all. But if I missed something, please let me know in an e-mail or review.

Sheesh, this A/N is massive enough without replies to reviews. Those are posted in my LJ. Now, read and be happy.

Come the Maëlstrom

Chapter Twenty Six

Lucius was starting to like mornings again. Just because he rose at an early hour and was used to it didn't necessarily mean that he enjoyed it. There were plenty of times that he would have liked to just stay in bed. But there was something relaxing about dining in the solarium in the morning with a newspaper in hand. Maybe it was that feeling that he was the only one in the house, or even the only person left in England. Or maybe it had something to do with seeing the sunrise and being in a rush to get somewhere. Whatever it was, it was nice. And today, it was made even better by the headline the greeted him as he unfolded the morning paper.

"Fudge to face full inquisition," he mused, eyes flickering over the picture of a nervous looking Fudge.

It would have been a pleasure to get a seat in the gallery to watch this trial but he wasn't so quick to step beyond his front door unnecessarily. He knew perfectly well that the general wizarding populace thought he must have used some underhanded method to get off the hook. Going out in public alone would simply be asking for trouble. And trouble was the last thing that he wanted to invite into his life. He had to behave for the next nine wretched months. So far as he knew, Tonks was his parole officer; she would let some small things slide, and not only because they were related through marriage. He hadn't thought that he would ever befriend someone like Tonks.

He sighed after a few moments and skimmed through the paper quickly before folding it to the second page. Breakfast was waiting for him and he didn't feel much like putting the newspaper down. His usual beverage of steaming earl grey sat there in its teacup, a small stir spoon on the saucer. There was a small glass of apple juice and some slices of kiwi as well today. However, it was the contents in the bowl that made him raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Bwink," he called, still eyeing the bowl.

A pop sound echoed in the room. "Yes Master Lucius? What is it you is wanting?"

"Why am I to dine on oatmeal for breakfast?" he glanced up at the house elf.

Bwink looked a bit nervous. "Master Lucius is not wanting oatmeal? It is good; many strong wizards eat oatmeal for breakfast,"

Lucius didn't say anything as Bwink started pulling on her fingers. He could actually see the bony little knuckles stretch and a small depression of skin form where there was a space. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"That is the last time you will ever be evasive with me, am I understood?"

Bwink nodded her head even as her eyes grew fearful. "Yes Mater Lucius, you is understood."

"Now then," he began slowly. "Why am I looking at this repulsive meal?"

Bwink opened her mouth but a terrified squeak came out. Lucius rubbed his forehead, as the squeak became a wail. How wonderful, he got to deal with house elf histrionics at this hour of the morning. When the sound of feet running came, he opened his eyes and saw Bwink running towards the single inlaid table with the eight books piled on top. The table that had been there since the manor was founded. And now some house elf was running towards it with the explicit purpose of badgering themselves on it. He was vaguely aware of the surge of anger that ran through him.

"Stop!" he barked, half rising from his seat, arm outstretched.

Bwink had halted mid-step and thumped right to the floor, still in a running posture. Lucius blinked and walked over. Bwink's eyes were darting around, as if she could somehow free herself from it. Lucius crouched down and poked at her. She was completely Petrified. He looked at his hand in puzzlement before he frowned. Just how was he supposed to undo this bit of accidental wandless magic?

As if in some twisted form of divine response, a loud knock came on the solarium door. He looked at it in surprise for a moment before he rose and went to the door. Draco was standing on the other side when he opened it. His son did not look very pleased about something in the slightest. Draco muttered something about needing to talk and attempted to push his way in but Lucius simply pivoted on his foot. His shoulder connected a bit forcibly with Draco's chest.

"What?" Draco looked up in irritation. "Don't tell me you actually have Severus in there."

Lucius scowled. "I didn't know my son was partial to Witch Weekly."

Draco's face flushed at that. "I'm not. Look, would you just let me in? We need to talk. About a few things actually."

"All right," Lucius said as he stepped aside. "But make sure you remove your shoes."

"Remove my shoes?" Draco laughed. "Why should I when you don't…"

Lucius simply smirked as Draco looked down and was greeted by the sight of Lucius' socked feet. Lucius entertained the thought of making Draco stick his foot into his mouth, but dismissed it a second later. This was a prime opportunity of actually getting to know his son. Salazar knew they knew virtually nothing about one another. He watched as Draco removed his shoes and stepped into the room hesitantly. Lucius closed the door behind him.

"I didn't know there was a solarium," Draco said after a moment. "It's nicely done. Who's the decorator?"

"Me," Lucius replied easily as he gestured to the table. "You wanted to talk about some things?"

Draco made a small sound of agreement in the back of his throat. They walked to the table and sat down. Lucius eyed the oatmeal with distaste and pushed it off to the side in favour of the kiwi and coffee. He had just speared a slice of the green, black seeded fruit with a fork when Draco spoke.

"Since when did you take to petrifying the house elves Father?"

Oh yes, Bwink. Lucius frowned. "Since that particular house elf was about to injure itself on an antique family crest table."

"Ah. Aren't you going to unpetrify it? I'd certainly like some breakfast."

"With what wand?" Lucius asked archly.

Draco frowned. "Then how did you petrify it?"

"Accidental, I assure you. I don't need to be casting magic and having those idiots dragging me in on the smallest thing.

Draco gave him a peculiar look but drew his wand and unpetrified Bwink. The house elf collapsed to the floor with a choked sob. She picked herself up, looking around in confusion. But the moment she laid eyes on Lucius, she wailed and darted to his feet, grovelling there and pulling on her ears.

"Bwink is sorry Master Lucius! Kitchen elves only told Bwink this morning! Bwink didn'ts know! Bwink didn'ts know what to do! Bwink didn'ts want to disturb Master Lucius or Master Draco! Bwink is a bad house elf! Bwink didn'ts know what else to have the kitchen elves make for Master Lucius' breakfast!"

Lucius sighed heavily as Bwink continued on. Draco was giving him an amused look.

"Bwink, all I wanted to know was why I even had to look at oatmeal, much less eat it. Explain."

"The kitchen elves is having very little to cook with." Bwink wailed.

"You mean there's nothing in the kitchen?" Lucius asked as his brow furrowed.

Bwink sniffled with a nasty choking sound and nodded her head frantically, hands flopping about with her ears. "Mistress used to take care of that. But since Mistress has been gone, we wasn't knowing what to do."

That certainly was a surprise. Lucius was surprised this didn't arise sooner. "Do you mean to tell me that we've been going through the pantry all this time?"

"Yes Master Lucius. That is what we'ves been doing. House elves isn't supposed to be making decisions for Master."

He frowned for a moment. "I'll look after it later," he waved a hand in dismissal.

Bwink disappeared with a brisk 'pop' and almost immediately, a badly masked snicker came from Draco. There was a straight expression on his son's face when he looked over. But there were telltale curves at the corners of his mouth. Lucius pursed his lips together slightly.

"I daresay you'll be laughing sooner or later," he picked up his teacup. "So there's not much point in hiding it from me."

The expression now on Draco's face was priceless. It was torn between shock and mirth. After what seemed like a long while, he cleared his throat and smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from his shirt. Lucius regarded him as he took a sip of his tea.

"I wanted to discuss Professor Snape."

"What about?" Lucius asked after a very long moment.

"Well, it's not so much discuss as it is stating something," Draco began slowly, as if contemplating something. "Just so long as I don't walk in on you and him in the middle of something."

Nothing was said for a long moment as Lucius regarded Draco. He placed his teacup down slowly and then turned his attention to the kiwi with a slight frown.

"Blast Narcissa," he muttered under his breath.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your dear mother is probably the reason why half the wizarding world is convinced that Severus is in my bed."

Draco's brow furrowed. "He isn't?"

"Certainly not," Lucius said before making a slice of kiwi disappear quickly. "While he is an excellent friend, he isn't what I want."

"You know, you usually follow that up with 'in a lover'," Draco's eyes became a bit steelier. "So who's your latest conquest? Or rather, how did you manage it in all this commotion?"

Lucius simply gave an enigmatic shrug and ate a bit more kiwi. Draco watched him for a long moment. When it became apparent that Lucius wasn't about to say any more on that subject, Draco simply shrugged his shoulders. Lucius was thankful that he used silences as answers. He had a feeling that Draco wouldn't take the fact that Harry was his new 'conquest' very well.

"I thought you'd like to know that I'll be staying at home for another year."

"Really?"

Draco nodded. "Learn some Italian."

"Italian," Lucius looked at him for a long moment. "And precisely when are you going to Italy next year?"

"Next December," Draco replied a bit absently. "Blaise has an uncle there. He's going to take over the family business. We're taking the year to prepare so it won't be an awkward move."

"And that would be?"

"Wandmaker. Boccacio Wands."

"Ah," Lucius had no qualm with that; Boccacio Wands was highly respected and was the Italian equivalent of Ollivander's. "I see."

"It doesn't bother you that I'll be moving to Italy?" Draco's brow furrowed.

"Why should it?" Lucius shrugged. "You seem to have thought it out thoroughly. Learning Italian won't pose much of a problem. And I trust you'll be finding a respectable job once there,"

Draco nodded his head.

"Besides," Lucius continued. "You're an adult. You don't need anyone to perform your spells for you."

Draco didn't say anything for a long moment, simply watching Lucius. Then he chuckled lightly. "A year ago, your response would have been so very different. Whatever happened to you when you vanished away must have been something good."

Lucius didn't say anything for a moment. "And I suppose Dumbledore felt it necessary for you to know?"

"Said it was my right to know as your son," Draco snorted. "Maybe the old coot was right. It certainly gave me some leverage with Mother."

Lucius arched an eyebrow in question. Draco stared at him incredulously.

"Do you mean to tell me you didn't know the nature of my relationship with Mother?"

"I highly doubt there was much love lost there."

"That's putting it mildly. It was always manipulation with her. I didn't like it much but now that I think about it, maybe it was a good thing that you were so distant before. It might have been worse, being pulled in two directions."

"And what makes you think I would have manipulated you?"

"You can sit there and truthfully say that you wouldn't have?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not; it all depends on the situation and the level of discretion required."

Draco didn't say anything for a long moment. "You know, you're not exactly helping the distant sonofabitch father who's easy to loathe image I had in mind."

"What have I constantly told you about assumptions?" Lucius murmured as he picked up his teacup once more.

"Not to make them," Draco said with a shrug. "But I would advise you to heed your own advice them."

"Why?"

"Potter might be coming around for a visit sometime next week."

A snort came from Lucius' throat but it conflicted with the tea that was sliding down at that precise moment. He coughed harshly for a few seconds, face going a bit red. Once he managed to clear his windpipe, he looked up at Draco.

"What?" he spat out, wiping at his mouth with the folded napkin.

"Potter might be coming around for a visit," Draco repeated. "I did mention that we had some sort of truce going. Only it's official now. I suppose we're friends. I don't know and I can't be bothered to define it clearly."

"Harry," he began. "Harry Potter," he added on with out a break. "Visiting here?"

"Yes." Draco said. "We've exchanged a few owls. Blaise and I visited his flat a few times now. It's only fair that he come to visit here."

Lucius didn't' say anything but arched an eyebrow.

"Don't tell me you hold a grudge against Potter. Surely you didn't want to be the Dark Lord's lapdog your entire life Father."

A scowl came to Lucius face. He certainly didn't want to be and was certainly glad the mouldering old megalomaniac was dead. But he was fairly sure that he didn't want Harry over here. Not yet anyhow. It would probably be a touch too hard to keep their hands off one another for a little while after being apart for so long. And being caught together was bound to land him back in the courtroom under the accusation of rape by Imperio, despite him not having a wand yet. Or it would be some other foolish accusation that would simply serve to tarnish him further.

"It's your house as well," Lucius said finally. "You can invite in who you wish."

"You're taking this awfully well. If it was Mother, she probably would have had a few Kneazles by now about some things."

"Your mother was always prone to histrionics," Lucius sneered. "But if you want to invite Potter, why should I stop you? You'd undoubtedly find some other way to sneak him into the house. This way there won't be any nasty surprises."

Draco nodded his head. "Of course Father; Potter's the only one I'm inviting. Not the Mudblood or Weasel."

"Hrm," Lucius mused. "I wonder if –"

His words were cut off by the 'pop' sound of Bwink appearing in the room. Lucius frowned and turned to face the house elf.

"First oatmeal for breakfast, and now you're back to plague me once more. What is it?"

"Mistress Nymphadora and Master Valerian are here Master Lucius." Bwink said softly.

Lucius nodded his head and waved a hand in dismissal. "It never bloody well ends."

"I'll say," Draco looked genuinely amused. "You get to go grocery shopping as well."

Lucius frowned at Draco momentarily before he rose from his seat and slipped on a pair of shoes. "Feel free to have the oatmeal if you absolutely starving."

He chuckled lightly at the whispered curse that left Draco's mouth. He made his way from the solarium and out into the main foyer quickly. There was Valerian and Tonks talking about something animatedly. He slowed his steps until they couldn't be heard at all. They hadn't even noticed him. In fact, he wasn't noticed until he cleared his throat and loudly at that. They both turned and looked at him blankly for a moment before Valerian shook his head.

"Lucius will not like that." He muttered with a look at Tonks.

"Yeah, well, it's not like he has a choice in the matter. Either he does it or he goes without one." Tonks replied, catching Valerian's attention once more.

"This is ludicrous! It's blatant infringement upon his rights! There is no need for him to –"

"Um, hello!" Tonks gave Valerian an incredulous look. "You know the meaning of the word 'parole'? Meaning conditional release. He has to behave, which he has been doing so far! Quite frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't killed a few wizards by now! Have you seen the garbage that Witch Weekly has been publishing? Not to mention everything else that has been flying about?!" Tonks screwed up her face and changed her features to one of a vapid beauty. "I slept with Lucius Malfoy," she crowed in a tinny voice. "It was the best sex of my life but he dumped me for that harlot Severus Snape! Now, I'm running to Witch Weekly in a Galleon grab!"

Valerian sighed and rubbed his temples lightly. "Yes, I am quite aware of that. If anything that's what lawsuits are for."

"How nice to see you advocate a libellous population," Tonks scoffed before she screwed up her face and her features returned to normal. "That's just what the judicial system needs, a flood of petty grievances." Tonks snorted.

"We can get into this later on," Valerian pressed his fingers hard against his temples and rubbed. "Right now, I have a client to see and I have a headache the size of a flock of Augreys and I haven't been able to stop off at the apothecary's."

"I'm sure I have something for that headache of yours." Lucius mused dryly.

Both Tonks and Valerian faced him in blank surprise once more. Lucius gave a snort and rolled his eyes. Honestly, they had looked right at him before. How could they forget he was in the same area as them so easily, not that the fact really mattered at this point.

"And to what do I owe this visit?" he asked.

"A few uptight judges who had every right to 'ensure the safety' of your parole officer and the general public." Valerian said in a disgusted tone.

"Oh don't get started," Tonks said in a warning tone. "I know you have a headache but taking a pissy attitude won't help one bit. Even I didn't like this! And I'm the one who has to go through it all. You're here because I contacted you."

"Yes, I know," Valerian said wearily. "Because –"

"Merlin forbid that Lucius Malfoy should be running around unregistered during his parole sentence." Tonks finished in an equally displeased voice. "And that a judge could work in some clause that could cause him some trouble, let alone a few."

"Do you realise you two have a very nasty habit of referring to me in the third person? I am right here." Lucius said in a flat tone

"Sorry," Tonks said, her face flushing red. "It's been a few long days for the both of us. Apparently."

Lucius arched an eyebrow at Tonks' rather abrupt addendum but shrugged it off after a moment. "So, the purpose of this visit is?"

"All three of us will be taking a trip to Diagon Alley, immediately. You will be going to Ollivander's to buy a wand. Then we're coming back here. You and Valerian have some paperwork to look over. And once that's done, you have to sign a document binding your use of magic for the duration of your parole sentence."

Nothing was said as Valerian gave Tonks a sympathetic look. The expression on the Auror's face did not match her cheery neon orange hair. She looked absolutely livid and disgusted. It seemed a bit hypocritical in light of how she was chiding Valerian but he wasn't in a position to complain about the judicial system. So if someone felt like doing so in light of what was happening to him, so be it. He wasn't about to stop it.

"So I am to assume that Valerian is here in order to make sure they don't bind my arms legally?"

Tonks nodded. "We haven't been getting any reports of activity from those rogue Death Eaters. We figure they're lying low and trying to find the right time to make their move. You'll just be screwed over if they kidnap you and you can't use magic because some idiot judge didn't deem it 'safe'."

Lucius hadn't thought Tonks could have a fearsome scowl. "Well, since you've planned the itinerary so well, allow me a moment to fetch a cloak and cane and then we'll be off."

Valerian and Tonks nodded as he walked off to the cloak closet and slipped into his usual travelling cloak. After a moment's thought he decided to forgo the cane. Any sign of humility would be useful, no matter how small it was. He made his way back, to find Tonks and Valerian glancing at one another with furrowed brows.

"And what is the issue now?" he looked between them.

"Nothing," Valerian said hastily as he made his way to the Floo fireplace. "I'll go first and meet you both at the Leaky Cauldron."

And with that he was gone in a burst of words and green flame. Valerian was never hasty with words. Lucius watched the hearth for a moment before he looked at Tonks.

"Don't even ask," Tonks said before Lucius could say a word. "C'mon. Fireplace, Leaky Cauldron."

Lucius nodded his head but he grasped a handful of Floo Powder slowly. "If I may ask something, Nymphadora?"

"Look, I have very little nerve today. And you just cut it down to a bare sliver. If you ever call me by my full name again, I'll castrate you myself with a rusty butter knife."

He had no doubt that she would do that but he blithely ignored her threat. "If we could make one small stop elsewhere?"

"Where?" Tonks grumbled.

"The grocer." Lucius said after taking a deep breath.

"You have to go grocery shopping? I thought you had everything delivered."

"Apparently not since my dear ex-wife fled into hiding. The house elves only informed me this morning."

"Fine," Tonks sighed. "You know what you need, right?"

"If by that you mean have I never been to a grocer's before…"

He trailed off deliberately as Tonks stared at him in utter disbelief. Then she shook her head, pushed him into the fireplace and squeezed in beside him.

"Seriously, they are not paying me enough for this job."

The past week was not pleasant. The grocery trip to Diagon Alley hadn't been fun to say the least. Lucius had to go to six different grocers before he found one that was willing to take him on a client. So long as he didn't have to look at oatmeal again, he considered it a small price to pay. He also graciously ignored the fact that the grocer was charging highly exorbitant prices. But again, Lucius wasn't in a position to complain. The sooner this wretched parole of his was over, the better with for him.

Once he'd gotten the wand, he'd been required to cast his signature on the legal paperwork. That was the simple part. The second his signature appeared, he could feel it taking effect and dampening his magic. The only catch about magical contracts was that they were immediate. He'd spent a good week practising with it, just getting a feel for it. The smooth dark walnut wood was warm in the sunlight and was a sheer pleasure to hold. The core of thestral hair had very wide channels and casting magic seemed effortless, like it was something he didn't even have to focus on. And that's how it had been until Tonks had come stomping in the following Monday with a black look on her face.

After a cup of tea in the parlour and some subtle coaxing words, he found out the reason for her vexation. Every charm he cast had left a record on her desk. And he had apparently flooded her desk all week and stressed her out. Trust the judicial system to suck the joy out of something innately natural and pleasing to a wizard. So after promising to not use magic beyond necessary, he sent her off and spent a good amount of time snarling to himself about a few idiots still remaining in power. He had just gotten a new wand. Of course he was going to try it out. What did they think he was going to do with it; use it as an overpriced paperweight?

Then there had been the mishap in the kitchen that almost resulted in him giving a house elf a complete set of clothes. The elf became so distraught at the mere mention of clothes that they started blubbering and begging to not be dismissed in such a shameful fashion. Lucius had simply agreed in order to shut the elf up; the blubbering was deafening and not to mention irritating as hell.

The only bright spots to the time spent at home were the visits from Valerian and Tonks every day and what seemed to be becoming regular dinners spent with Draco's company. He was slowly starting to know his son more than before. Just a few days ago, he learned that Draco had taken a liking to fantasy. Apparently Harry loaned him some books that were rife with sex, murder, political intrigue, incest, cursing, dragons, undead zombies, massive direwolves, and what sounded like a bunch of hot men running around and contributing in some manner to something or other. He'd vaguely heard something of a deposed family attempting to reclaim a throne and something about twins and sex before Draco had lost him. Lucius was starting to think he would have to read those books some time. If anything, just to understand what Draco was prattling on madly about. And just what had Harry so engrossed back in Spain.

At the moment, he was sitting in the solarium, stretched out on some blankets with some pillows cushioning his back; it was a late Sunday morning and he intended to relax as much as possible. He was reading the newspaper and was feeling quite content. When the solarium door creaked opened, slowly he frowned slightly and ignored it. The person was bound to leave once they realised Lucius was intent on ignoring them. He heard the door close with a gentle click but he didn't hear the sound of feet walking away on the hardwood floor on the other side of the door. No, he heard the sound of someone removing shoes quietly and then nothing.

"All right," he began, resting the paper on his knees to look at the person. "Just what do you…"

He trailed off in shock as he found himself looking at Harry. The brunette was frozen mid-stride, headed towards Lucius, with a growing grin on his face. Lucius, on the other hand, was staring at Harry in disbelief. His brain was attempting to convince itself that what it was seeing was real. That it was Harry now standing there, relaxed and grinning like a mad fool with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"How did you get in here?" he blurted out. Almost immediately, he wished he had said anything else.

"Draco gave me a Portkey. He didn't want to bother fiddling with the wards," Harry rocked on his feet a bit. "I was supposed to visit him today but he doesn't seem to be here."

"No, he isn't here," Lucius said, shutting the newspaper and folding it up neatly. "He's gone to Italy with Blaise for the day. They'll be back later on tonight."

"Guess he got the days mixed up then. Though I can't complain about his faux pas."

"Faux pas?" Lucius looked at him incredulously; it seemed a bit odd hearing French come from Harry's tongue.

"Draco's attempting to 'civilise' me. According to him, I'll be a proper wizard one day yet, with much better manners and all. Not to mention much less crazy and free from that terrible tendency to rush into things."

"I imagine," Lucius mused dryly.

Harry smiled and made his way over to Lucius' side before he settled down beside him. Lucius couldn't look away from him at all.

"I suppose it's his way of getting me back. After all, I got him hooked on that Muggle book."

Lucius' lip quirked at that. "Yes I know; I suffered a very long plot synopsis during dinner on Saturday."

He took a slow deep breath and realised that wasn't a brilliant idea. Faint drafts of Harry's cologne reached his nose. It only seemed to accent the fact that Harry was in his manor, sitting right beside him and was just there. Someone who was probably going through the same things that he was at the moment.

"So, how have you been?" Harry asked, tilting his head slightly.

"I'm quite sure Draco may have filled you in."

Harry chuckled. "He has. Apparently you've been acting differently. He prefers it but he's not too sure."

"He seems to be getting used to it," Lucius said quietly; suddenly his tongue stuck to the floor of his mouth and he felt flushed. "You?"

"I met Ron and 'Mione for lunch a few days ago and told then where I was. They tore a right strip out of me. But I had to wait so long. There was no way they're dislodging me from my flat now. Want to hear the funny part?"

"And that would be?"

"They said Dumbledore was concerned about the safety of where I was. According to them, he feels that I should consider moving in with the Dursleys; that might be safer for me. More protection apparently."

"Yes, because we all know they only have your best interests at heart." Lucius snorted with dry amusement.

Harry was still smiling. "Lucius?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to go out sometime?"

Lucius' brow furrowed immediately.

"No, not in the wizarding world but Muggle London. I'm tired of sitting around the house all day. I shouldn't have to fear going outside. And neither should you."

"So long as I don't have to use magic in any form."

"You can't use magic?"

"I can but very sparingly. They're tracking my usage and Tonks is my parole officer. When I first got my wand, I was casting spells and charms with abandon. Have you ever seen an angry Tonks?"

"No, I can't say that I have."

"Fortunate soul. She doesn't cope too well with paperwork."

Harry chuckled as he rested against Lucius' shoulder. "Merlin, I've missed you."

"As have I." Lucius' arm crept around Harry's shoulder. He'd said the words quietly as if someone else just might hear the admission.

"Your parole is nine months, right?"

"Yes. I don't see it lessening in the future any time."

"Hm."

"Hm?"

"I was thinking about travelling," Harry said after a long moment. "Go see the world. Settle down somewhere else other than here. Anywhere else has to be better than here."

"I concur," Lucius replied softly.

"Come with me?"

Lucius didn't say anything for a long moment. That wasn't such a bad idea. There were Malfoy properties all over the world, bought at one time or another. It would be the perfect escape. If he could hold out for nine months and ignore whatever protest came that he was simply fleeing from the crimes that he committed. But the last thing he would tolerate was any more slander against his name, and leaving the country would give the journalists a field day.

"Lucius?" Harry looked up at him.

"I don't know." Lucius murmured in a thoroughly conflicted tone.

"Say yes."

Harry had propped himself up on one arm and was peering into Lucius' face intently. Lucius didn't say anything and, after a minute, Harry's expression darkened.

"Forget what everyone else might say. You'll never leave England if you don't. They'll always have something against you. And they'll always idolise me. Let's just leave it all behind us."

A part of Lucius wanted to listen to Harry's words and just agree, and throw all reason out the door. But he couldn't just leave a trail for some one to potentially follow him. If he left, he would be leaving for good. Maybe he could transfer the properties to Draco's name only but still retain ownership. Plus he had thought about only summering in England before. Why not make that a reality and go somewhere that he could be with Harry?

But nothing was ever that simple. And he had so many people watching his steps now. He knew of no way to throw them off and make sure that they never found them again. It would be just as difficult for Harry since he was so much a public figure. Albeit reluctant, unwilling even, but still a public figure. If he wanted to vanish, it would take some very skilful manoeuvring.

"Lucius…" Harry murmured as he shifted and angled his head upwards. "Say yes…"

Lucius could feel Harry's breath moving across his face like a ghostly caress. His lips tightened as he attempted to ignore Harry's pleas and focus on the question at hand. But Harry was pressing his body closer gradually. It didn't help Lucius' concentration as Harry slid his body up against Lucius. When he glanced down, he found Harry simply looking at him. This was the second time in his life that Lucius was struck by the feeling that he couldn't quite breathe properly. Harry shifted, sitting up and sliding a hand around Lucius' neck.

"Come with me Luc. We'll get away from it all for awhile. It'll be like Spain, but with only the two of us. No one else."

Lucius closed his eyes and didn't say anything as Harry rested their foreheads together. The silence was all that lay between them for a long time. It was even longer before Lucius opened his mouth to speak. The only problem was that he couldn't hear any words come out. He felt Harry draw away and he opened his eyes to find Harry looking at him a bit anxiously.

"Lucius?"

Then it suddenly seemed like his tongue managed to move and form coherent sounds. "I will."

"Are you sure?" Harry's brows furrowed slightly. "You still seem a bit unsure."

"I'm sure," Lucius said. "Once my parole is over, we'll leave. Go somewhere else. Anywhere else."

Harry smiled and kissed Lucius gently. "I thought you might like that."

"Is that the only reason why you asked me?"

"It would be rude of me if I just up and vanished," Harry said as he settled against Lucius once more. "Though it would certainly make things a bit easier."

"Things?" Lucius asked, running his fingers through the ends of Harry's hair.

"Yeah. Like Dumbledore constantly trying to get me to go back to the Dursleys, making sure that no one gets the bright idea to follow me back to my flat. And not to mention all the bloody owls."

"Surely it can't be that bad."

"Well, not the ones that are job offers," Harry grumbled. "It's the other ones I'm starting to get sick of. Do you know how many witches keep writing to ask me if I would marry them? If there's no company name, I just burn the letters from people I don't know."

"You burn things in your flat?"

"It comes with a fireplace. It's really nice. You should come by for a bit before we leave." Harry said.

Lucius chuckled as Harry shifted and rested his head in Lucius' lap. "Why don't you tell me about your flat?"

"Well, it's a little condo in a building on third floor. Actually, condo isn't precisely the right word. A loft is more like it. I figured I would buy myself a nice place with the money I did have. Two levels, hardwood floors and rugs with lots of space and windows. There's a fireplace in the bedroom and living room. I had to get a traditional one installed in the living room for Flooing. I just told the previous owner I was eccentric."

"I can just imagine how that went over." Lucius mused dryly.

"He thought I really was," Harry grinned. "But since I was buying the place, he didn't protest much. It is a great little place. But being cooped up all day for a few days straight… it's even worse when you don't know what you're going to do or what you have to look forward to."

"Don't fret," Lucius soothed as he petted Harry's hair. "I'm sure you'll find something adequately enjoyable in the Muggle world for us to do."

"How does theatre sound? Symphony?" Harry frowned as he thought. "A soccer game? Or maybe a movie?"

"And what, pray tell, is a movie?"

"Meaning, you know what the others are," Harry mused. "We'll go see a movie. A movie is… hrm, never had to explain it before. Ron asked once, but 'Mione told him. She did a much better job. You'll probably like it. I'll try to find a good one that we can watch."

"A good one?"

"They can make some really bad ones," Harry said with a shrug. "You can go back to reading your newspaper, you know. I didn't mean to make you stop."

"No, I think you meant to ambush me." Lucius smirked as he reached for the folded newspaper.

"Yes, and you just had to go and ruin my fun."

And with that Harry screwed up his face and stuck his tongue out at him. Lucius watched him, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. Then he briskly snapped out the paper and started reading. The only sound that filled the room now was that of breathing, the pages of paper turning and Lucius' slight sounds of approval or disapproval as he read through the articles. When he finally finished and folded up the paper, he found that Harry was fast asleep, hands folded over his chest. Lucius placed it beside him and looked down at Harry. He smiled and brushed aside a lock of Harry's hair. Then he bent down to press a kiss against his forehead.

"You know," Harry quipped as he cracked open an eye. "I think you missed the mark this time."

Lucius gave a snort; so much for being asleep. "Have I?"

"Yes," Harry smirked. "If you bend back down, I'll show you where you should have kissed me."

Lucius couldn't help but smile as he bent down once more. Harry's hand curled around his neck, fingers playing with the fine hairs there. Lucius brushed his lips against Harry's for a moment before kissing him. He felt the momentary flicker of a smile on Harry's lips before he was kissed back. He drew back a few moments later and found Harry smiling up at him with closed eyes.

"I've really missed you Lucius," he murmured as he opened his eyes lazily. "Now, do you spend all your time in this room or are you going to show me around."

"You sound like you're planning to move in." Lucius snorted as he pushed Harry's head from his lap and rose.

"You make it sound like a bad thing," Harry mused as he stood as well and stretched lazily. "How long will showing me around take?"

"I planned on showing you a much condensed tour of the house," Lucius murmured, pulling Harry in closer and nuzzling his neck. "But I can think of a much better way to spend the day…"

"Oh hell, just skip the tour then."

The late afternoon sunlight slanted in through opaque curtains, casting a dull green glow in the bedroom. The night table on the bed held two wands and one pair of glasses. On the bed were two figures. The covers were mussed up and they lay curled around one another, stroking skin lazily; the entire day had been spent talking, relaxing and with slow, tender sex. They had just come out of the shower and curled up on the bed to dry off. Harry wasn't too sure what it was about Lucius that made him feel calm inside. All the stress and agitation that had been building up inside him disappeared the moment he was Lucius again. The only thing he was sure of was the feeling that welled up inside. Of course, that could simply be the post-coital afterglow talking, but he did feel that way.

"Harry." Lucius said quietly, disrupting Harry's thoughts.

"Mmmhm?"

"You said you wanted to travel. How would you feel about living overseas? Somewhere other than England?"

Harry blinked but didn't reply, a slight furrow coming to his brow. Sure he wanted his privacy but he figured becoming something of a recluse would do the trick. Uprooting his life to start over in another country seemed rather drastic. But so did the decision to become a recluse.

Lucius' arms tightened around him slightly. "You don't have to answer right away; take some time to think about it."

"No, don't worry. I was thinking about it. I mean, I seriously hadn't thought of that option before," he shifted and propped his head up on a pillow. "If I did move overseas, I think the only thing I would have to worry about would be my name popping up in a textbook occasionally."

"Ah, the fickle degrees of fame," Lucius gave a lazy smile.

Harry smiled and scooted in closer and rested his head on Lucius' chest. He took a deep breath and listened to the sound of Lucius' heart beating.

"I wish you didn't have that stupid parole," he murmured a few minutes later. "We could leave right now."

"After you just bought a place?" Lucius asked in mild surprise.

"It's not like I've been living there for long," Harry said a bit defensively as he reached for Lucius' other hand and linked their fingers. "Besides, having more than one place might be a good idea."

"A few places around the globe, I daresay?"

"That's a great idea!" Harry sat up eagerly. "I thought a few places in one country, but we could have one in Spain and a few in other countries that no one would think to look for us! Like… um… well, somewhere! We can go look at some places when we travel!"

"While it is prudent to think ahead, maybe it would be better to wait until things settle down and it becomes quite clear that I have no intent on breaking my parole."

Harry didn't say anything for a long moment. "You can't leave the country can you?"

"Not until my parole is up."

"This blows." Harry pronounced and flopped back against the pillow.

"I know you're eager to leave," Lucius began as he propped himself up on one elbow. "But maybe you should think about staying in England for a bit longer, at least until winter or spring."

"Your parole won't be over by then. It won't be until the summer of next year." Harry protested. "And –"

"And I do believe you're fretting far too much," Lucius replied firmly as he leaned in. "Besides, I can think of something much better to blow."

"Shouldn't that have been some subtle comment rather than something blatant?" Harry asked with a silly grin spreading across his face.

"I could have been," Lucius said with a salacious gleam in his eye. "But it's enjoyable to make you wonder sometimes."

"Uh huh," Harry glanced down at Lucius' cock and found it half hard already. "Sheesh, you don't waste time."

"You make efficiency sound like such a bad thing." Lucius mused.

Harry snickered and leaned in to kiss Lucius. Lucius smiled against his lips for a moment before giving him an open mouthed kiss. Harry gave a soft groan as Lucius' hand cupped his head. He managed to manoeuvre Lucius back down against the pillows. He kicked against the linens as they got in his way. After a few futile kicks that simply tangled his feet, he snorted and pulled them up to his waist. Lucius looked at him with an eyebrow arched.

"They were getting in the way," Harry explained. "Besides, my ass was getting a bit cold."

Lucius gave an amused snort but pulled Harry back down in for a kiss. Harry was happily obliging, and rubbing his own hardening cock against Lucius' when a loud bang made him break off and grab for his wand and glasses on the bedside table. He didn't know who on Earth that was but he would –

"Father? Potter?! What the hell?!?!"

Harry scrambled for his glasses and slid them on to find himself facing one very livid Draco and shocked Blaise. And right behind him was Valerian, Tonks and some woman who looked absolutely flabbergasted. Remus on the other hand, looked distinctly uncomfortable, as if the room stank. Harry supposed it did, since he and Lucius spent the better part of a day shagging in here. He sat up, pulling the sheets closer to him, vaguely noting that Lucius did the same as well. And then he remembered why he had been feeling a bit uneasy to begin with. Lucius had said that Draco would be coming back later on tonight, not tomorrow or the like; in other words, a fairly specific time frame. He glanced back at Lucius and then at the small clock that was on the bedside table. The hands were pointing to 'Dinner'; bloody hell, they should have seen this coming and avoided it.

He stared at the sheets. "Fuck." He muttered.

"Fuck, indeed." Lucius murmured.