*… Walking with his head down, thoughts fierce and busy. Then a figure ahead in the dark passage – christ, Lucius Malfoy. Out on some nefarious nighttime errand, presumably.

Trying not to slow his pace. Preparing himself to give the usual curt nod.

'Good evening, Severus.'

He stopped.

Lucius in front of him in the lamplight, his face lit a dark gold. A long time since he'd seen him up close. That pale hair curving down over one shoulder. This couldn't be good. He began very slowly to ease his wand out of his sleeve.

Then his pleasant voice: 'It has been far too long. How are you?'

Trying not to appear disconcerted. 'Oh, you know, mirthful as ever. Savouring every day of my miserable existence.' A classic Slytherin reply. Useful tool to conceal puzzlement or wariness.

A smile playing on Lucius's lips.

Should keep it polite. 'And you?'

The smile growing wider. 'Thirsty, actually. Come and have a drink with me ...' *

Severus sat in the dark, a book on his lap, his eyes staring unfocused in front of him. The castle was silent.

* … Taking a sip of his Firewhisky. No sitting back in the chair. Remain alert. 'So is there something specific you wanted to talk about?'

'To talk about?' Another smile. 'No.'

In the brighter golden light of the quiet pub, Lucius's eyes: definitely, unmistakeably grey. Pale grey, like stone. He'd forgotten. Malfoy Junior had blue eyes, after his mother.

Speaking of which. 'How are Narcissa and Draco?'

'Both fine. How are you spending your summer?'

Small talk, apparently, the chosen mode. 'Mainly research. The Ministry wanted me to give a lecture. I said I'd write them a paper instead and they could let me off doing the lecture.'

'Shame. I'd enjoy watching you speak to an audience.'

Raising an eyebrow. 'If the audience had numbered more than six I'd have been astonished.'

'Oh, really? No ex-Hogwarts pupils crowding into the front row and casting you longing looks?'

Gazing at Lucius steadily. It was becoming easier now. 'Congratulations. You have discovered a highly effective emetic. If any of my pupils ever swallows poison by mistake you can simply use my name and the phrase longing look in the same sentence and they will vomit up their entire intestines.'

Lucius's laugh ... *

Severus turned his head slightly towards the window. Still dark. Another hour at least until the twilight of dawn began. Still, he had the whole conversation in his memory, he'd spent a while lying awake in Lucius's bed a few months ago, reconstructing it. (Another tool left over from former times.)

* … 'And how do you find teaching these days?'

Giving a faint smile. 'Well, as you can imagine, my natural charisma is a major asset.'

'Of course. And how is it working for Dumbledore?'

Ah. Deflect, deflect. Start Occluding? Perhaps. Lucius had shown himself a fair Legilimens at one time. In the end he said, 'Dumbledore is … stubbornly determined to see the best in people. Which suits me.'

'But which was always his downfall, as the Dark Lord used to say.'

Raising an eyebrow. 'I would suggest the Dark Lord's downfall has been somewhat more marked.'

Lucius inclining his head. 'I can't disagree. So you're happy teaching Potions?'

'Is this really what you want to talk about, my position at Hogwarts? I've been there twelve years.'

'I know. I used to imagine you would find a job in London. Become some sort of world-famous expert. I pictured you living in a nice little terrace, books everywhere, travelling all over the world, striding in and out of ministries and academies everywhere with papers under your arm and giving expert advice to the rich and powerful.' A pause. 'And getting married, perhaps.'

He could not hold back a short, humourless laugh. 'You never thought I would get married.'

Lucius gave a low laugh, then looked at him. Really looked at him ... *

Severus sat very still, holding the moment in his mind. His whole groin was tingling slightly. Oh yes, that look had been … unequivocal.

* … Slightly reeling post-Apparition, watching Lucius close the front door of his London flat and lock it with three, four, five different spells.

'Are you expecting an intruder?'

'Ha. Force of habit.' Lucius throwing his cloak over the back of a chair, then turning to him. The same look. The same hardness in those grey eyes. 'Come here.'

No way. Taking orders from Lucius Malfoy, not an option, even now. Returning the stare – this game he could play all night.

Lucius waiting. His expression creasing with amusement. Then, slowly, coming over. Taking hold of Severus's hands, ignoring his involuntary jolt, drawing them around his waist. 'This is more like what I had in mind.'

The broad body, the warm chest – here, fucking here, in his arms. His breath grew tight with panic, or, well, he wasn't sure what it was. He closed his eyes. Opened them. Christ almighty, his cock was already hardening.

He drew back quickly. 'Might I ask whether your marriage – I mean, is Narcissa – does she –'

Lucius interrupted him. 'Narcissa is perfectly happy. We have an arrangement.' He smiled again. 'Haven't you ever wondered why we only had one child? We agreed very early on, to be discreet in pursuing our own interests.'

'Ah.' Then, with a faint smile, 'I'm not sure I realised your interests included men.'

Lucius's amused exhale. He came close again, lifted a hand, and stroked it, very slowly, down Severus's neck.

'Fuckkk.' The word escaping his mouth as if the caress had opened a pressure valve.

'Ah, I see.' Lucius smiled. 'How long has it been?'

He took a slow, shaky breath. 'Somewhat too long …' *

Slowly the rest of the night passed. It was not unlike Occlumency, this concentrated remembering – he had to keep it very even, very vivid, so it filled the whole of his mind. Only then could he successfully keep out unwanted of thoughts. Stray bits of whatever nightmares had woken him up this time. Flashes of irrational jealousy that Lucius might be fucking someone else – which, he had to admit, was probably true – but which they had explicitly agreed not to care about. More theorising about Sirius Black, about Lupin, how Black had got around the Dementors. And an idle but recurring thought that had begun to niggle at him, about whether he might, one day, bring himself to leave Hogwarts and pursue some other career, something more suited to him. Perhaps one day he would indeed stride in and out of wizarding academies and ministries all over the world.

* … Afterwards, Lucius whispering in his ear: 'I never thought I'd get to make Severus Snape come.'

His mind reeling and tumbling with the gorgeous satisfaction and soreness of sex, with Lucius's smell and sweat all over him, with the glorious shock of being wanted.

But he managed to turn and smirk at Lucius. 'If only you'd used your imagination a little sooner.' *


The dawn arrived, and Severus cleared his mind carefully, had a quick wash, and put on his teaching robes to go down to breakfast.

The first thing he saw was an envelope in his place, with Lucius's handwriting on it.

Severus's stomach jolted so hard that he had to stuff the letter into his pocket and sit silently at the staff table for a minute, until he could trust himself to eat anything or speak to anyone. When breakfast ended, he practically sprinted back to his office and tore the envelope open.

Very much looking forward to the Yule Feast. You should prepare yourself. Trust me, I will fuck you so that you stay fucked. L.

That line made him moan right there in his office.


A/N: Thank you for the new reviews, faves, follows – much appreciated! –SS–