School: Mahoutokoro

Year: 7

Theme:

Injustice: Write about a character who inflicts or suffers from injustice and how they respond.

Main Prompt: [Creature] A werewolf

Additional Prompt: [First/last line] He was, unfortunately, handsome.

Word Count: 1270


A/N: Beta credits to Liz and Lun! Thank you for helping me out with this!


1979

He was, unfortunately, handsome. There was a grace in his posture that people rarely possessed. With his voice and his cadence, he had the power to enrapture anyone, only if his words weren't so blithe. Though who was he kidding? He lo—liked him all the more for his sharp sense of humour.

His looks weren't captivating at first glance, but one could come to appreciate it over time. It was becoming exceedingly difficult to appear unaffected when in close proximity to that man.

"Do you think I'm here to talk to the teapot and teacups?" his companion asked.

"I'm listening," Lucius lied as he hid behind the newspaper. He was pretty sure they had been discussing the new wizarding Swiss cabinet. He couldn't recall when the topic had turned to salamander gills.

Luckily they were interrupted by the House-Elf refilling the jam. They passed the next few moments in silence.

"Are you free tonight?"

"I guess," Lucius answered.

This is what happened every month. Severus would ask the question with absolute nonchalance and Lucius would answer in the same non-confirming way.

Even if they both knew that he would be there. This time, however, Lucius wasn't so sure.

"I should be heading back." Severus stood up and called for Twinkle to get his coat. "Give my regards to Narcissa."

"I will," Lucius said, finally feeling courageous enough to put his paper down and look at him.

With a nod, Severus left, leaving behind his faint scent, his cup and an empty vial of Wolfsbane.

Lucius sighed and made his way towards the gardens.

It had been a year since that fateful night Severus was bitten, and every month when he turned, Lucius had been by his side. One could call it moral support.

He felt personally responsible as he had been the one who had extended Severus the invitation to Tom Riddle's revel. He had only wanted to distract the man from whatever heartbreak he had been going through. Lucius wasn't aware whom he pined after, and as a Slytherin he never pried, so he had just Owled Severus the invitation.

How could he have guessed that a bunch of werewolves would be present among the elite? That after a few drinks, they would corner Severus and turn him, to extract some kind of childhood revenge?

"Did Severus leave?" Narcissa asked distractedly over the book she was reading. He sat on the bench next to her.

"Yes."'

She brought up the topic of the next gathering they were meant to host and discussed the invite list, but Lucius was too distracted. He nodded at all the right places and excused himself when the conversation came at a close.

Their marriage had been arranged and they had learned to love and respect each other. Their relationship wasn't bursting with passion but he still cared for her. He felt wracked with guilt.

As he made his way towards the bedroom, Lucius decided that this would be the last night he would accompany Severus. He would savour every second with him and then let go.

He decided sleep would be ideal to be well rested at night. And once the first rays of sun would peek through tomorrow, he would tend to his responsibilities and forget about Severus Snape.

When he lay on his bed, he traced the light silver crescent moon mark that had appeared on his right shoulder a couple of months ago.

It had been a shock when he discovered it on a random Thursday morning. He had immediately locked himself in the library and researched till dusk.

A sign that he was a werewolf's intended. His Mate. The bond wasn't fated, but rather resulted because of a connection between the two. It made it all the very worse since Lucius could not blame his affections on anyone.

The only good thing was that the mark was meant for his eyes only and no one else could see it. Not even Severus.


Despite the chill in the night air, Lucius felt relaxed as leaned against one of the night-blooming jasmine trees at the edge of the Manor's Wiltshire property. The flower's fragrance calmed him.

There was just enough light from the moon to spot a vague outline of Severus' wolf form approaching him. Even as an animal, the man appealed to him. It took everything in him not to pet his thick, black coat. To take care of him when he returned to his human body.

He knew that once he reached that level of closeness with Severus, there would be no going back.

Severus grunted to pull Lucius out of his thoughts.

The first night when Severus had transformed, had been awkward. Soon they realised that strolling the woods together worked best for them. Lucius never ceased to be surprised at how graceful Severus was, even in his wolf form.

From all his textbook learnings, he had noted that werewolves tended to be restless after their transformation. Severus did not possess that trait. Lucius found it odd, but it wasn't like he was a master at the subject of werewolf behavioral patterns.

The only thing about werewolves he had been taught was that the creatures were scums.


Three years ago

"How did the session go?" his wife asked when he entered their room.

She was sitting in front of the vanity, brushing her hair.

"Ridiculous, if you ask me. They called me at nine on a Saturday morning to discuss some useless Werewolf rights," Lucius complained as he sat down at the edge of the bed.

They had barely been married for a month and Lucius felt irritated at having to be called away from his wife for asinine reasons.

Narcissa gave him a sympathising look from the reflection in the mirror. "What was it about?"

"Werewolf Mate protection. Basically giving werewolves rights to do absolutely anything when it comes to protecting their mates. As if, we need to give them any more reason to wreak havoc."

"What was the verdict then?"

"Vetoed, of course. They were fools to think that it would pass."

"Hmm. What was it last time?"

"They wanted to lower the sales tax on aconite so that Wolfsbane would be more accessible." Lucius huffed as he leaned back on the bed, his forearms supporting him. "As if the Ministry isn't running low on funding already."

He was glad to be a member of the Wizengamot. Salazar knew what kind of laws would have been passed if he hadn't been able to convince people of his personal opinions.

His father had taught him the art of swaying people's opinions to his liking and he felt matters like these were too important to let pass.

Narcissa hummed. "What are our plans for today, then?"

Lucius held up a cloth covered key with a grin. "We're going to France. I've arranged a portkey."


Lucius came back to the Manor early in the morning and collapsed on the sofa in the drawing room. He rubbed his face and tried to shake out the exhaustion.

He wished he could go back in time and prevent that revel from happening. He wished that he had kept Severus from attending it. They had just attended the blasted thing to show that they supported Tom Riddle.

He wished he hadn't vetoed all kinds of laws that made life for werewolves much easier. He wished he hadn't married.

He wished he wasn't a Malfoy.

But holding such a powerful name came with responsibilities. Cissa was expecting. He would have an heir soon. He couldn't abandon his family.

He couldn't be with Severus.