Disclaimer: I wish... in vain.

Notes: Well, I changed chapter five, I don't know if somebody actually got to read it, but I wasn't happy with it. I must say I'm much more content with this one. Hope you enjoy. Please review. Thanks!

'Checkmate.'

Snape pronounced triumphantly, melting back into the armchair as his queen knocked the crown of the adversary king. Malfoy pursed his lips and leant back himself, swirling the blood red liquid of his glass before taking a sip.

'You really should be better at chess, with your love for politics...'

'I must not be, considering I am not yet Minister for Magic.'

Lucius responded, sounding strangely disgruntled.

'You can't expect to be crowned king in so little time.' Severus said calmly, waving a dismissive hand in the air. ' I never knew you had such high aspirations, though. Minister?' he concluded with a raised eyebrow. Malfoy smirked and downed the rest of his wine.

'Truthfully the Minister is sometimes, not to say usually, but a puppet. Real positions of power are often backstage.'

'Cunning and stratagem, aren't those the famous Slytherin traits?'

Snape teased, though his face was masked in an unpleasant sneer. Lucius' eyes narrowed irritably, gray eyes cold.

'I cannot resort to the Imperius curse with all, therefore I must inevitably content myself with more legal ways. Anyway, as you mentioned just a few moments before these kind of achievements take time.'

'I highly doubt bribing and blackmailing Ministry officials is considered legal, my friend.'

Severus answered, his tone expressionless, but his eyes were shining with amusement. Malfoy smiled in a rather satisfied manner and motioned for the other man to join him in his seat. Snape complied, albeit with an enquiring eyebrow, crossing the short distance between their armchairs and placing himself on Lucius' lap.

'That aside, you should know better than anyone how diverted I am in pursuing other skills.'

'I should?'

Snape asked, his voice breaking slightly as Malfoy nibbled on a sensitive earlobe.

'Yes... You might not believe it, but I have been most unusually loyal to you, Severus.'

'You have?'

Severus nearly purred as he felt a hardening bulge rubbed against his thigh. Lucius brushed his lips over the other man's, flicking his tongue over them until they parted and slipped in, tickling the roof of Snape's mouth with the tip of his tongue. He broke the kiss and nuzzled against Severus' neck, his breath tingling the pale skin pleasantly as he spoke softly, though his tone contained a hint of menace.

'Indeed, and I hope you have returned the favor.'

The black-haired man tilted his head back, hands running down Malfoy's chest.

'Rest assured that it is so.'

Snape said sincerely before leaning forward to capture Lucius' lips with his own, sucking lightly as he caressed Malfoy's navel, unbuttoning the velvet green trousers swiftly and taking the pulsing heat between his slender fingers. Lucius groaned with pleasure as he printed a trail of wet kisses down Severus' collarbone, his own fingers working rapidly to pop open the crisp black shirt.

Without warning he lifted Snape from his lap and shoving the chessboard aside, pushed him onto the table. Severus protested half-heartedly at the mess, his words dying away as Malfoy brushed his thumbs down the black hair that ran down Snape's navel to his rigid organ.

Lucius breathed heavily, his arms shaking under the strain of keeping himself upright, his hair cascading down brushing Snape's chest.

'We really shouldn't do this again, what if Narcissa came in?'

Severus remarked unexpectedly, caressing a lock of silky hair as he spoke.

'She won't. She's staying in her room all day, embarrassed of walking around with that bulging stomach, I believe.'

Lucius explained with a shrug, letting fall a light kiss on a pale ribcage as he disentangled himself and cast a cleaning charm on both of them before offering his hand to pull the other man to his feet.

'Doesn't she allow anyone in, then?'

Snape asked curiously, tugging his shirt on and beginning to button his shirt.

'Oh, yes. The house-elves which serve her specifically, myself of course, though not too often and - Bellatrix.'

He said darkly, glaring at the woman who was standing just outside the room.

'Do you live here dearest sister-in-law?'

Malfoy questioned, fortunately already dressed, as he crossed the room towards her. The witch stared at him coldly, looking him over as though trying to find anything suspicious.

'No.'

She replied after completing her inspection, casting a disdainful glance at Snape who was clearing the floor of chess pieces with a casual wave of his wand.

'Then I would think you should know it's polite to knock before entering rooms in others houses.'

'I came to see Narcissa.'

'As you see, my wife is not here. So if you will excuse us.'

'You're hiding something Lucius.'

Bellatrix said accusingly. Her eyebrows rising nearly to her hair line as her gaze fell upon a red blotch on Malfoy's neck.

'Even if I were, which you would find hard to prove, be assured it is nothing which concerns you.'

He said icily. The witch glared at him furiously for a moment before turning on her heel and departing down the candle-lit corridor towards her sister's room. Severus approached quietly from behind and slipped his arms around Malfoy's waist, letting his chin rest on the other's shoulder.

'She suspects something, I fear.'

He whispered as they watched her shadow disappear and muffled silence fall in the hall.

'She knows nothing, not that I care. I simply wish to avoid Narcissa any displeasure, she's very sensitive with her pregnancy.'

'I'll leave.'

Snape said, beginning to pull away. Malfoy caught his wrists and pressed up against him.

'No, you will not. You're staying for dinner and then I'll accompany you home, of course, as the good friend I am. Or, perhaps, since it will be late I will graciously offer you a room in my manor, as the well-mannered host I am.'

Lucius whispered haughtily, half-closing his eyes and inhaling deeply.

'I like the way you smell.'

He said with a smirk. Snape mimicked his expression before closing the distance between them and kissing Malfoy, who released his wrists to allow his hands to wander on his waist and sliding down his back.

'Do you wish for revenge?'

Severus asked, indicating the orderly set chessboard. Lucius nipped at Snape's lip unusually playful and nodded, leading them back to the game.

'I have other games in mind though.'

Malfoy hinted seductively, pulling Snape back to his lap instead of releasing him to sit in the other armchair. Severus smiled, weaving his fingers through the golden strands. A pop broke them apart as a house-elf materialized before them.

'What is it Elf?'

Lucius asked the creature angrily, failing to grasp Snape who was moving away towards his own chair. Large bat-like ears drooped fearfully.

'Miss Malfoy tells Blooky to bring Master Malfoy, sir, she wishes to see him.'

Malfoy glared at the elf.

'Tell her I shall be there in a moment. And you, stick you hands in boiling water for this damn interruption, elf.'

Blooky nodded sadly and dissapparated with a whip-like crack. Lucius turned to look at Severus who was sitting, quite expressionless. Malfoy stood up finally.

'I'll be back as soon as possible, Severus. Feel free to entertain yourself whoever you wish, this is your house, I hope I needn't remind you.'

Snape waved him away, looking somewhat disgruntled. Lucius smirked and reached out to hold Snape's chin, lifting his head to look at him.

'I'd rather stay with you, Severus, really. Don't let me leave like this.'

Severus lowered his eyes then looked back at Malfoy.

'I- I love you.'

He stammered, his lower lip trembling. Lucius' hand dropped, and he took a step backward, surprised. He stared at Snape, eyes rather wide then blinked and smiled finally, though he still looked a bit unsettled.

'I'll see you in a moment.'

Malfoy said, hand twitching as though he were going to clasp Snape's hand but dropping back to his side before he turned and walked swiftly from the room. Severus watched him go silently then gave an almost inaudible sigh and gulped down the wine that remained in his cup.