Dangerous Games

Impia sub dulci melle venena latent.
(Deadly poisons are concealed under sweet honey.)
Ovid – 'Amorum'

November 1, 2001 – Malfoy Mansion, Wiltshire

Lucius lounged back in his chair with a snifter of brandy cradled to his chest and an enigmatic smile on his lips. He contemplated the fire as he sipped his drink, already rehearsing his speech to his Lord. If everything went as planned in the next few days, Voldemort would be able to defeat Potter and Lucius would finally have his revenge upon Snape.

When the door to his study opened, Lucius turned his head languidly to look at the newcomer. He rose to his feet and held out a hand in a welcoming gesture. "Ah, my dear. You look lovely tonight. That robe enhances your colouring immensely."

Narcissa gave a small smile, acknowledging the compliment as she allowed her husband to assist her to the settee. She accepted the glass of wine Lucius offered her, then waited until he was ensconced in his chair again before stating, "Your guest is awake and giving the house elves a bit of trouble. Perhaps you should consider another lesson in acceptable behaviour."

Shaking his head, Lucius said contemptuously, "Muggles are notoriously bad mannered, my dearest. You should know that. I am doing my best with our visitor, but unfortunately, he's being obstinate and refuses to cooperate." He raised his glass and took another sip, savouring the flavour and burn of the liquor. "I'm planning on a new session with him shortly."

"That's probably a good idea, my love." Narcissa peeked at her husband from under her lashes as she slowly ran her free hand down across her breast, pulling her sapphire-blue robes taut against her still-willowy figure. Lucius was planning something, and since he was being unusually closed-mouth about his schemes, she was going to use all her available weapons.

Lucius watched his wife's movements, his amusement hidden beneath hooded eyes. He remained silent, waiting to see what she would do next.

Narcissa sighed quietly when her teasing failed to provoke a response from him. She raised her glass to her lips and decided to change tactics. "I had lunch with Pansy today. It's so pleasant to have a daughter-in-law with whom one can gossip."

"And what did the young Mrs. Malfoy have to say?" Lucius taunted, enjoying the flush that crept up on Narcissa's pale cheeks when the barb hit home.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Narcissa replied, "Well, the most exciting news is that's she and Draco are finally expecting. According to Pansy, the baby is due around the first of June." Narcissa smiled softly at the thought of a new addition to the family. She'd only been able to have the one, and was looking forward to spoiling Draco's child.

"Hmm, it's about time Draco realized the duty he owes to the Malfoy name. Hopefully the child will be a boy."

Narcissa narrowed her eyes when she heard the hard edge in Lucius' voice. "That's not fair, Lucius. You know how hard they've tried to have a child. If it hadn't been for that potion that Severus brewed for them..." Ah, interesting. If she hadn't been watching Lucius so carefully, she might have missed that slight flinch. Narcissa smiled sweetly and observed, "We owe Severus so much, don't we, Lucius?"

Standing up abruptly, Lucius crossed the room to the door. He turned, one hand on the doorknob, and snarled, "You're playing a dangerous game, my dear." He allowed the warning to sink in for a moment. "Do give my regards to MacNair when you see him tonight. Have a pleasant evening."

Snapping the door shut firmly, Lucius strode down the hallway to the stairs leading to the dungeons. He cursed himself for allowing Narcissa to goad him about Severus. He should have his emotions under better control than that, and his last dig had definitely been uncalled for. Lucius couldn't care less that his wife was sleeping with MacNair – in fact, politically speaking, it had proven to be beneficial for the Malfoy family. As long as she was discreet about the affair, he would continue to turn a blind eye to it. However, taunting her about it had shown Narcissa that she had struck a sore point with him, giving her a momentary advantage.

He firmly pushed the matter aside for now. There would be time enough to deal with Narcissa once the Dark Lord ruled the Wizarding World, with his most trusted advisor at his side.

Lucius unlocked and unwarded the cell where his prisoner was being kept. He stepped inside, smiling cruelly at the look of fear on the man's face. "Good morning, Mr. Davenport. I believe it's time we had another little chat, don't you?"

November 1, 2001 – Heart's Ease Cottage, Hogsmeade

Harry stretched languorously on the bed, keeping his eyes closed and enjoying the slight ache in his muscles. A warm arm was draped across his chest and he snuggled back into the firm body behind him. He grinned as he rubbed his ass against the stiffening prick – despite making love twice during the night, it seemed that his husband was up for more. Finally opening his eyes, he twisted his head around, meeting Severus' worried gaze with a loving smile. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." Severus traced a fingertip down Harry's cheek before giving him a tender kiss. "Harry, I..."

Harry laid his hand over Severus' mouth. "Shhh, don't say it. Nothing happened that I didn't want – you should know that." He wriggled around until he was facing his husband. "In fact..." he whispered with an impish grin, one hand trailing down Severus' body to his hard cock. Firmly gripping it, he stroked it slowly up and down as he leaned over and captured Severus' mouth with his own.

"Harry..." Severus moaned into his mouth before deepening the kiss, his hand cupped tightly around Harry's neck. Their tongues slid wetly, hotly, against each other, exploring and reacquainting themselves. Severus sucked Harry's lower lip into his mouth, nipping lightly down on it before he released it completely and began nibbling his way down Harry's neck. He found the sensitive spot at the juncture of Harry's neck and shoulder and bit hard, sucking on it until his lover was writhing wildly against him.

The next minute, Severus was surprised to find himself flat on his back, Harry straddling his thighs with a broad grin on his face. Harry leaned over and pressed a wet kiss just above Severus' nipple. "You tortured me last night, Severus. It's my turn now." With that, Harry began to kiss and bite Severus' chest, finally drawing a pebbled nipple into his mouth and sucking. Severus arched off the bed, moaning incoherently as white-hot desire flooded his body. He was soon lost in sensations, Harry's mouth and hands seeming to be everywhere at once.

When Harry at last sank down onto Severus' hard prick, engulfing him in his hot, tight body, Severus gripped Harry's hips and drove his hips upward. He adjusted the angle of his thrusts slightly, and smiled when Harry threw his head back, bowing his body and keening softly. "Merlin, Harry, I love you!"

Harry braced his hands on Severus' shoulders, bending down to kiss his husband. "I... I love you too, Severus," he gasped as Severus encircled his cock with his palm and tugged. "Oh... oh, God... more, Sev'rus!" Severus twisted his hand on the upward glide, running his thumb roughly across the damp slit several times, and was rewarded when Harry clamped down on him, his body tensing in orgasm. Thick streams of pearly white liquid coated his hand and stomach, and Severus jerked his hips up into Harry's trembling body at the sight, overwhelmed as the muscles in Harry's ass constricted around him. His balls pulled up tight against his body and his vision darkened as he came.

As he came to, he became aware of Harry's limp body slumped heavily over him. Severus gently slid out of his husband and eased him onto his side. Severus brushed back the fringe off Harry's forehead and smiled tenderly when the green eyes fluttered open. "Hey."

Harry grinned at him. "Haven't we had this conversation already this morning? Are you okay?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing. You passed out there at the end."

"So did you," Harry retorted, wrapping his arms tightly around Severus' torso. "Merlin, Severus, that was... fantastic."

"Hmmm," Severus hummed, kissing Harry lightly on the cheek and climbing out of bed. "I hate to leave you, but I have class in an hour."

Harry got to his feet as well. "That's all right – I have to go over to the Burrow and fetch Dria." He followed Severus into the bathroom and turned on the shower. "Are you coming by tonight?" he asked, a bit tentatively, as he waited for the water to warm.

Severus wrapped his hand around Harry's arm, pulling him close. He stared down into Harry's eyes, shocked to see the nervousness there. "I'd like that, if you're not tired of me." He pressed his body tightly against Harry's, dropping wispy kisses on Harry's bare shoulder.

Harry's eyes grew heavy with desire. "Never. I'll never get tired of you." He laughed when Severus pushed him under the water spray, shaking his head to clear his face of water drops.

"Get in there, you little monster, and stop trying to distract me," Severus growled as he joined Harry in the shower.

"Oi, you were the one doing the distracting," Harry whined, picking up the soap and quickly lathering his body. He handed the bar to his lover and grabbed the shampoo. "Don't forget to use this, you greasy git!" he teased.

Severus smacked him on one rounded ass cheek. "Behave, brat." He shampooed his hair and after rinsing off, stepped out onto the mat. As he towelled off, he glanced over at Harry, a serious look on his face. "You realize we need to talk about this, don't you?"

Harry shrugged and grabbed a towel, drying himself briskly. "I know. Why don't you come over for dinner tonight, and after Dria's in bed, we can discuss everything."

"That sounds good." Severus kissed Harry quickly and went back into the bedroom to dress. He didn't have time for much breakfast, so he walked into the kitchen as he fastened the last buttons on his robes and made some toast. He was buttering the last slice when Harry entered, hugging him loosely about the waist.

"Did you make enough for me?"

Severus handed Harry his and the two men quietly munched on their makeshift breakfast as they walked outside and down the path to the Apparition point. Harry stretched up and pecked Severus on the chin. "I'll see you tonight then. Love you." At Severus' nod, Harry grinned and they both Apparated away, Severus to Hogwarts and Harry to the Burrow.

November 1, 2001 – The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, England

When Harry appeared at the Burrow, he could hear his daughter's laughter from behind the house. He walked around the corner and grinned, leaning against the side of the building while he watched the twins and Ginny playing with Dria. One of them had brought out a beginner's snitch, and George had Dria on his shoulders as they chased the snitch around the garden.

Molly was seated on a nearby bench, knitting something gaudy as she kept a careful eye on the players. She glanced over at Harry and with a bright smile, gestured for him to join her. As he approached, she scooted over to one end of the bench and laid her bag of yarn on the ground near her feet, giving Harry enough room to sit beside her. "How are you, dear?"

"Wonderful, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said as he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Was Dria good for you?"

She gave a happy sigh. "Dria's an angel, Harry. She didn't misbehave at all."

"Daddy! Lookee me!"

Harry laughed and waved at his daughter as she and George raced by. "You need to teach me the spell you used then, because she's always getting into something at home."

"Pfft, she's a good girl." Molly held up her knitting. "I'm making her a blanket. She helped me pick out the colours last night."

Harry eyed the misshapen blob, hiding his involuntary flinch. "I'm sure she'll love it."

Molly peeked at him out of the corner of her eye and asked casually, "So, how did things go last night?" She grinned when Harry's cheeks turned a fiery red. "Well, I'm guessing from your reaction. I'm glad, you both deserve it."

"Yes, well..." He flashed her a bright grin. "We're going to talk tonight after dinner, but yeah, the date went well." As George neared them again, he called out, "Hey, guys, playtime's over." George hefted Dria up and over his head, flying her over to Harry's outstretched arms. "Hi, little girl."

Dria gave him a sloppily wet kiss on his lips. "Dria play'n kidditch, Daddy. See me?" She cuddled down onto his chest, his chin resting on her head.

"Yes, sweetie, Daddy saw you playing Quidditch. Did you catch the snitch?"

"Yep, me caught it." Dria lifted her head and giggled. "Feath'rs tickled me."

Harry stood up with a smile. "Did they? Was it like this?" he asked, running his fingers lightly along her side, making her squirm and wiggle as she laughed. "Ready to go home, Dria?"

"Yep, go home."

Turning to Molly, Harry grinned. "Thanks for watching her, Mrs. Weasley. Both Severus and I appreciate it." He waved and walked around to the front of the Burrow. "Okay, Miss Dria, we're going to do some magic now, all right? Close your eyes, and when you open them again, we'll be at home."

"'kay, Daddy." Dria closed her eyes and then promptly opened them again. "Not home, Daddy," she announced sadly.

Harry chuckled. "We'll try again, okay? Now, close your eyes and don't open them until I tell you." When Dria closed her eyes again, Harry Apparated them back to the cottage. He glanced up at the house and was surprised to see Joshua sitting on the steps. "Hello, Joshua," Harry called out, placing Dria down on the ground next to him.

"Dosh!" Dria cried, and took off running.

Joshua stood up and caught Dria as she pelted toward him, tossing her high into the sky. "Hello, Dria. I missed you." He settled her onto his hip and looked over at Harry. "I missed you, too."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Josh, you saw me last night." He walked past his friend and daughter and opened the house. "Come on in." He shut the door after Joshua and Dria entered, smiling fondly at them as Dria chattered at Joshua, and then asked, "Would you like some coffee?"

"Sounds good," Joshua murmured, not turning his attention away from Dria. "She's grown a bit since I saw her last." He continued to stare at the little girl, making Harry a bit uneasy.

Harry gently took her from his friend, setting her down onto the floor with her toys. "Yes, she has," Harry replied as he headed into the kitchen. He paused in the doorway to look back over his shoulder. Joshua was now sitting near Dria on the floor, an intent look on his face as he watched her play. He held what looked to Harry to be an old coin in one hand, caressing it lightly with his thumb and occasionally shaking his head, as though to clear it. "Are you all right, Joshua?"

Joshua looked up at Harry with a rueful grin. "Yeah, I just have a bit of a hangover. I was feeling sorry for myself, with you gone on a date with your husband, and I kinda had too much to drink. I'll be fine." By the time he'd finished speaking, his attention had drifted back to Dria.

Still hesitating, Harry asked, "Do you want something for it?"

"Naw, the coffee will do the trick." Joshua reached over and pulled Dria onto his thigh. He ran his fingers through her curls and gave a gentle smile.

Harry pushed away his misgivings and turned back to the kitchen. Joshua and Dria's voices drifted through the open door while Harry brewed the coffee and prepared a cup of juice for Dria. After checking the pantry, he decided a plateful of biscuits would be a good addition to their snack, and then he arranged everything onto a tray before he walked back into the sitting room.

"Here we go," he called out as he placed the tray onto a low table near the sofa. Dria climbed off Joshua's lap and hurried over, grabbing her cup with one hand and a biscuit in the other. Harry poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Joshua, who had crawled over to sit beside the table. Harry looked carefully at his friend to see what he'd been holding earlier, but the coin was nowhere to be seen.

"So, how did your date with your husband go?" Joshua asked, refusing to meet Harry's eyes.

Harry bit his lower lip for a second before he said gently, "Really well, Joshua. We're... we're going to try, see how things go." He laid one hand on Joshua's shoulder and frowned when it was jerked away from his grasp. "I'm sorry, Joshua, I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but..."

Joshua inhaled sharply and shook his head. "I had a feeling... last night, you looked so happy, but I knew it wasn't for me." He glanced briefly at Harry with a sad expression on his face before he looked back down at his cup. "He's the one who makes you happy, and... I'll be okay with that, eventually." His hands began to shake violently and hot coffee splashed over the rim onto his lap. "Damn, that hurts!"

Harry jumped up from the sofa. "I'll get a towel." He hurried into the kitchen and rummaged through the drawers until he found a clean dishtowel then walked back toward the sitting room.

As he entered, Harry overheard Joshua mutter, "Time to go, little one. Somebody wants to meet you." He glanced up in time to see Joshua, Dria hugged tightly to his side, activate a Portkey. The next instant, both were gone.

"FUCK!" Harry yelled, dropping the towel onto the floor and running over to the fireplace. He threw in a handful of Floo powder in and called out, "Albus Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts." When the fire flared green, he took a deep breath and stepped inside.

November 1, 2001 – No. 12 Grimmauld Place, London, England

"What is the plan, Albus?" Minerva asked quietly. "We cannot sit here and do nothing and we certainly can't send Harry into what is most likely a trap."

Harry stared down at his right hand, which was entwined with Severus' left one. His patience was wearing thin and even though he knew the Order meant well, their constant debating was driving him mad. He absently rubbed his thumb over the silver ring on Severus' finger and drew in a shuddering breath.

Severus leaned over, whispering in his ear, "Harry, you need to calm down."

He glanced up at Severus, green eyes damp with suppressed emotions. "I... I just can't believe Joshua would take her. And who in the hell put him up to it? He's only been in England a day or two."

"Severus?" Dumbledore's voice cut through their whisperings.

Severus looked over at him, one eyebrow arched. "Yes, Albus?"

Albus steepled his fingers, his sombre blue gaze flitting between Severus and Harry. "There have been Muggle rumours about increased activity around the Riddle House. Is it possible Voldemort is basing his activities there?"

Severus shook his head. "Not all the time, Albus, no. There have been some meetings there, but the Death Eaters have also gathered at the Malfoy mansion as well as a deserted farmhouse near Edinburgh. And honestly, they could be hiding in three or four other areas as well."

Sighing, Albus plucked thoughtfully at his beard. "Then we must investigate all of the possibilities. Severus, will you write up a list of the different sites, please? We'll split up into teams and head out immediately." He stood and looked about the room. "Let us take a short break and when we come back, I will assign the teams then. Molly, would you mind making some tea for everyone?"

Molly nodded and stood. As she passed Harry and Severus, she paused long enough to give them both quick hugs.

Harry smiled shakily up at her then moved closer to Severus. "I'm going to Apparate home for a moment. I... I need a few minutes away from everyone."

"Would you like me to come with you?" Severus asked. He placed his hand on Harry's back and slowly rubbed it. When Harry nodded, he continued, "Let me give the list to Albus, then we can go, all right?"

"Okay," Harry whispered. "Hurry, please. I have to get out of here."

Severus gave him a gentle kiss as he stood. He walked over to Albus and the two men spoke quietly for a few minutes. Albus then produced a blank piece of parchment from deep within his robes and handed it to Severus. Severus quickly wrote out a few lines, re-read it and gave it back to Albus before he crossed the room to Harry.

"Are you ready?"

Harry jumped to his feet. He was keyed up, anxious to be moving. All this sitting and talking and planning was getting on his nerves. "Yes," he muttered as he headed for the door.