It was six o'clock. The Hogwarts staff, minus their Headmaster, were gathered in the staff room, drinks in hands. Term had officially ended, and most of Severus's colleagues were smiling and, in some cases, tossing back pre-prandial glasses of elderflower wine or mulled mead. Sprout and Filch were fairly far along already, and McGonagall was watching them over the top of her glasses with evident disapproval.

Severus was sitting in a corner in his plain black robes, drinking plain water, and hoping fervently that his nervousness looked more like awkwardness and misery, which were certainly the emotions he would normally be feeling at an event like this. He was counting the seconds. The governors were already here – Lucius was in the castle, right now – and had been closeted in Dumbledore's office all afternoon for their termly meeting. Around half past five they had disbanded and gone to dress for dinner, and now they were expected any moment.

For a moment his eyes fell on Lupin, who was chatting to Flitwick and appeared to be taking his time over a glass of wine. He too looked a little nervous, though immaculate in a set of dark red dress robes, with his hair combed back and his shoes polished. The robes suited him – they were simply cut, and the colour brought out a little warmth in his skin. Dumbledore had done well, Severus concluded.

Finally there came a rush of voices in the corridor, and people began to come in: Dumbledore leading the way in spangled purple robes, then the governors and their guests – Severus stood up, his breath coming shallowly – here were Agatha and Amelia Bones, then Bertram Bartleby-Crouch and his wife, and Artibius Ratch, and Felicity Merrythought – they greeted the Hogwarts staff, bunched around the drinks trays, separated into groups – more people appeared, the Flints, the Abbotts, the Minister's secretary Benedict Webb – and Severus gripped the back of a chair with one hand, seized by a sudden fear that Lucius hadn't come –

But here he was. He came in last of all, and Merlin, he was dazzling: in beautiful grey silk robes, his pale hair loose down his back, his chin slightly up, and a slight sneer on his face as he moved into the room, his eyes searching among the staff.

He saw Severus; and although he came over slowly, there was no mistaking the purpose in his body, nor the way his face tightened into an even more pronounced sneer.

Severus ducked his head momentarily, arranging his expression, then looked up into his lover's face as he came to a halt in front of him. 'Hello, Lucius,' he said calmly.

'Severus. Are you well?'

'Tolerable, thank you. And you?' Oh, he could smell him. There was the sharp juniper scent, whatever it was, and underneath the warmth of his body. He wanted to get right in close to that smell, to touch and knead and taste. It was going to be a very long evening.

Lucius exhaled slowly, as if calming his own feelings. 'Not bad,' he said. 'It was a long meeting. I'm very ready for a holiday.'

'Of course. So you're staying tonight and taking Draco home with you in the morning?' Severus kept his face schooled into polite blankness, while the desire roared in his belly. He could feel the glances of some of his colleagues, some curious, others (he didn't doubt) disapproving of two old Death Eaters exchanging small talk.

'That's the plan,' Lucius said, taking a glass of wine from a tray held out by a house-elf; when Severus refused a glass, Lucius said, 'You're not drinking?'

'I'm afraid I've lost the taste for it these days,' Severus said. Of course this was just for show: Lucius knew full well that he rarely drank alcohol, especially at school. 'I hope you've been accommodated well here?'

'Yes, he's given me the Unicorn Room, do you know it?'

He nodded, giving Lucius the briefest arch of an eyebrow to acknowledge the transmission of information. 'Indeed. Some very fine tapestries. But it's a while since I've seen them.'

'Very fine. Come up with me later and have a look, if you want to refresh your memory.'

'Thank you, but I imagine I'll be expected to patrol the corridors after dinner, to make sure the students go to bed when they're told.'

'Ah well,' Lucius said. 'Then I too shall go to bed when I'm told.'

They held each other's eyes for a long, hot moment; then Lucius turned and looked around at the clusters of witches and wizards. 'Not a bad little gathering. Who's that?'

'Who?' He followed Lucius's gaze. 'Oh. That's Lupin.'

Lucius turned back to him. 'The new Defence teacher? Sirius Black's little friend?'

'Yes, don't you remember him from school?'

'Not as such.' Suddenly Lucius lowered his voice a little. 'I had hoped you might be wearing them.'

Severus blinked, caught by surprise. Then he said, his voice also low, 'How could I possibly – here?' He took a breath. 'But they are – very – appreciated.'

Lucius flickered an eyebrow. 'I'm glad. Bring them tonight. Will you introduce me to Lupin?' He was already turning away and moving across the room before Severus had registered what he'd said. 'Oh god,' he muttered, and quickly followed, foreseeing disaster.

Lupin had seen Lucius coming; he was watching them approach with clear consternation, even alarm. Severus managed to catch up in time to make the introduction. 'Lupin, Lucius has asked to meet you, since you teach his son. Professor Remus Lupin – Lucius Malfoy.'

Lucius was the first to bow, his usual elegant curve down and back. After a momentary hesitation Lupin returned a slight but definite bow, ducking his head and bending a little at the waist. Lucius smiled and straightened up. 'I hear you're the best Defence teacher we've had in years.'

Lupin raised his eyebrows politely. 'Am I?'

'Well, Draco isn't especially forthcoming in his letters,' Lucius said, 'but he did ask me if there were any Boggarts lurking around at home he could do battle with. Which I take to be a good sign.'

'I'm – pleased to hear that,' Lupin said. He was pale, and sounded a little uncertain, but was clearly determined to hold his nerve. 'Draco certainly has talent.'

'That's very kind of you to say,' Lucius said. 'If you're here for a while I hope you'll be able to continue developing his potential. How much teaching experience do you have?'

Here it was, Severus thought. The first in what would no doubt be a long series of barbs.

But Lupin didn't look at all discomfited. 'None, actually,' he said. 'Dumbledore employed me as someone with knowledge in the subject rather than as an expert pedagogue. I'm hoping that will grow with time, of course.'

Suddenly Dumbledore tapped Severus on the shoulder: 'Severus, would you come and talk to Mariana Flint about Marcus's progress? She's worried about his OWLs …'

Severus went with the Headmaster, flashing a look of warning at Lucius before he went. Once they were out of earshot he said in a low voice, 'I don't think Lupin should be left alone with Lucius Malfoy.'

'On the contrary,' Dumbledore said cheerfully, 'I think it's a good chance for Remus to show Lucius he can't be bullied. Good choice on the colour for the dress robes, by the way. Don't you think they suit him?'

'They're fine,' Severus said. He looked back at Lucius and Lupin, who were still conversing, both with fairly pleasant expressions. How long would it last, he wondered, before things started to get ugly. Lupin had shown himself not easily provoked in recent months – but then, Severus hadn't really been trying all that hard, and Lucius of all people knew how to rile someone up if he set his mind to it.

He got the conversation with Flint's mother over as quickly as he could – Flint was going to fail most of his OWLs, there were only so many ways he could say it – but it was still a few minutes before he could get back to Lucius and Lupin. He was astonished to see that Lupin was actually smiling – not a polite crease of the mouth, but a real, relaxed smile.

'Apologies for that,' Severus said as they turned to greet him.

'Not at all,' Lucius said. 'I've been most enjoyably entertained. Lupin was telling me about some of the things the Boggart transformed into during his lesson.'

Severus threw a glance at Lupin. 'Without the students' names, I hope.'

'Oh, of course, completely anonymously,' Lucius assured him. 'Though I would pay good money to know who fears you above all things.'

He ignored Lupin's grin. 'I would put it down to a lack of imagination on the part of this particular individual,' he said dryly.

He was gratified to see Lucius laugh. 'Oh, I have no doubt you can be supremely terrifying,' Lucius said. Then he turned to Lupin. 'What would a Boggart change into for Severus, do you think?'

'A ban on books?' Lupin suggested. 'Compulsory regular socialising?'

Lucius gave another laugh, a low, warm sound which made Severus's whole body throb for a moment. 'Perhaps you should order in another Boggart, Lupin,' Lucius said, 'and surprise him with it one day, to find out.'

Lupin smiled. 'I suspect I'd just about live long enough to see what it became before Severus put an end to both the Boggart and me.'

Severus inclined his head, trying not to reveal his increasing bafflement. 'Indeed.'

This was extraordinary. Lucius Malfoy and Remus Lupin getting on? Joking together? Joking together about him? Even if Lucius was doing it as a way of covertly flirting with Severus, or simply for his own amusement, what on earth was Lupin doing? Had he forgotten Lucius was a pureblood former Death Eater, who had helped Voldemort to murder many of his friends and now sat comfortably in his own wealth and power?

Before he could speculate any further, however, Lucius was pounced upon by Felicity Merrythought, who was making the rounds and wanted to reminisce about her mother; Lucius made another graceful bow, his grey silk rustling, and stepped away with her.

Lupin and Severus watched him go; then Severus said, 'That was – unexpected.'

Lupin looked at him. 'Which part?' He looked rather flushed; exhilarated, Severus realised, was the word that came to mind.

'The part where you and Lucius Malfoy conversed amicably for nearly fifteen minutes.'

Lupin nodded for a couple of seconds, looking thoughtful, then said, 'Well, yes. He's certainly very good at making himself charming.'

'And are you – charmed? I hadn't imagined you would give him the satisfaction.'

'True, but sustaining a grudge is so exhausting, don't you find? Especially – well, I want to keep this job, and he seems an important person to be on the right side of.'

Severus suspected Lupin was not being entirely truthful – he liked Lucius, that's what he was unwilling to admit – but said nothing more. It was only one conversation. Best not to show himself too interested in who Lucius did or didn't manage to charm.

'By the way,' Lupin said, turning to him again. 'Thank you for the Christmas present.'

'What?'

'These.' Lupin lifted his arm to indicate his own robes. 'I know technically they were from Albus, but I take it you must have said something to him?'

He couldn't be bothered to lie. 'I mentioned it. You would attract attention if you appeared underpaid.'

'Well, they're very nice, I'm very grateful,' Lupin said. Then he grinned. 'Though presumably you didn't suggest Albus should get them in a Gryffindor colour.'

'No,' Severus said. 'No, I suggested green with silver trim and a repeating snake motif, but for some reason he didn't follow my advice.'

Lupin laughed, and Severus gave a small smile – if only because his lover was in the room and he was feeling almost congenial.

'Also,' Lupin said, lowering his voice a little, 'I should have told you ages ago. The effect of the potion when I drink it' –

'Oh, yes,' Severus said, cutting him off. 'I worked that out weeks ago.'

Lupin looked a little taken aback. 'Ah.'

Immediately Severus regretted interrupting him. He would have rather enjoyed seeing Lupin squirm as he admitted his own arousal. On the other hand, being able to tell Lupin he didn't need to embarrass himself in the noble service of research, that the information didn't have the value Lupin had thought, was not without its satisfaction.

'Well, you see why I didn't want to tell you,' Lupin said, grinning a little sheepishly.

'You think I've never heard of a potion giving the drinker an erection?' Severus said coolly. 'Even Muggles have a drug for that.'

'No!' Lupin protested, then looked even more embarrassed. 'I mean, it doesn't exactly do that, it's just …'

'Somewhere on the spectrum of sexual arousal?'

'Well – yes, if you want to put it so clinically.'

'I see. Well, if there are any other effects you're feeling childishly squeamish about, perhaps you'll manage to let me know next time,' Severus said. His attention was drifting away from the conversation. Lucius was right over on the other side of the room, and Severus saw his head tip back as he laughed at something Felicity Merrythought had said. She wasn't bad looking – and only in her mid-forties – plenty young enough for Lucius if he wanted to –

No. Not an acceptable line of thought. Lucius was here to see him, he'd made that very clear. They had the whole night ahead of them, and then it would be the holidays, and he would be able to stay in London and see him as often as he was wanted. Only a few more days until the full moon, and then he would be free.

Lupin hadn't reacted to his retort. He seemed to be trying to work out the right thing to say. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, however, the gong sounded for dinner, struck by an elf holding a mallet almost as big as its own body, and Lupin laughed. 'Ah well. Let's eat.'

'Yes,' Severus murmured, still watching Lucius. For a moment Lucius's head turned, the heavy line of his pale hair, and met his eyes across the room. His chest went tight with longing.

Then Dumbledore was at the front of the room, addressing them. 'My friends, my colleagues!' he said happily. 'Welcome to this little Yule gathering. I want to thank each and every one of you for all your hard work this term, which has been, I think it's fair to say, more difficult than most.'

He wasn't wrong, Severus thought darkly.

'But I hope everyone is in good health, and good spirits, and if not I hope the feast and the subsequent holiday will do something to change that. And now I have no wish to delay your enjoyment further. To the Great Hall!'

Lupin leaned towards Severus and murmured, 'If he doesn't want to delay our enjoyment, perhaps he could just cancel the feast and let us get started on the real celebrating.'

'Something like that,' Severus murmured.

As everyone moved towards the door, he caught Lucius's eye again across the room. Lucius had escaped Felicity Merrythought and was standing alone; he held Severus's look with a faint, knowing smile, and gave a slow nod: once, then again. It promised – well, everything.

He took a long, shaky breath – only a few more hours – and went into dinner.


A/N: Thank you so much to those of you who've reviewed, subscribed and favourited since the last chapter – it helps me keep up the momentum! –SS–