A huge thank you to the interest that has been shown in this piece of ... writing? I hope it puts a smile on your face because I know it makes me smile. Get reading then; Severus and Lucius are waiting for you!

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Severus Snape sneered the entire way up the entrance pathway. The pebbles beneath his feet crunched noisily and he kicked a few at a stray peacock who dared get too close. The Malfoy's always did themselves proud; rightfully so, he thought. If he had that much money he would probably blow it on the odd peacock or two as well. Or maybe pack his career in at Hogwarts if he thought Dumbledore wouldn't drag him back kicking and screaming.

"Peacocks?" he scorned when Lucius met him at the door. The elder Malfoy stood next to a snake skin suitcase that Severus equally loathed the look of; he toyed with his waist coat pocket and produced a pipe.

"They're not mine," he defended, striking a match above the briarwood pipe and supping the flame across the tobacco. "They're Draco's. The mother-in-law sent them over as an early birthday gift."

Severus scoffed, eyeing the elegant birds roam across the extensive garden to his left. "I'm not sure that's practical," he murmured, smirking when one stumbled slightly. Not as elegant as you look, Malfoy bird.

"Between you and me," Lucius whispered and cast a quick glance over his shoulder, then leaned closer to the other man. "He's been sitting on their backs since they arrived. The one that keeps stumbling is terrified of him!"

Severus supressed a chuckle and lowered his bag to the floor, dipping his hands into his coat pocket. He did like coming to Malfoy Manor; who was he to complain about being waited on hand and foot? It made for a change to the chilly dungeons at Hogwarts and the even colder rooms at Spinners End. Contrary to popular belief, Professor Snape did not like cold and murky scenery; it reminded him of darker days and he didn't like to dwell.

He thought it a pity that he was only around for the weekend; having argued with Albus to no end to be allowed leave the grounds so close to the end of term; he wished he could milk the situation just to annoy the old man.

"Dobby!" Lucius bellowed suddenly and from within a loud crack a startled looking house elf appeared.

"Master called Dobby?" the elf said in its high pitched voice.

"Dobby, take Severus' bags to the third floor. Make sure his room is comfortable."

"Yes, sirs," the elf bowed to his master and bowed to Severus too, then picked up his bag and vanished in another crack.

"Blasted elf is getting unreliable! Remind me to deal with that lat…what are you scowling at now?"

"The third floor, Malfoy? I've been clear that I am not sleeping on that bed again. Those springs are lethal!"

Lucius waved his friends ramblings away, supping his pipe again and blowing a cloud of smoke near his head. "Relax, Severus. I took your ranting serious… how could I not after the second letter?" he muttered darkly. "The elves removed the mattress and put a new one down especially for you."

"Good. You were very close to flying solo for a moment," he drawled.

"I commend you for keeping your word, Severus. You always were trustworthy," Lucius said. He suddenly pivoted on the spot; pulling the pipe from his mouth so quick Severus would have questioned if it had ever been there, and murmured a quick vanishing spell. "Darling!"

Severus scowled at the platinum blonde woman who clicked her heels across the marble hall – Narcissa Malfoy. She was elegant, classy and Severus hated to admit it, but if he had been interested in women he would have said she was pretty. What she had perfected in physique though, she lacked in character and Severus found her to be a snooty and boring woman. Lucius didn't know of his feelings of course and informing him would be social suicide. Severus was no fool though; all too aware of the Malfoy's social status and just how impeccable having them as friends was to his social standing.

"Good afternoon, Narcissa," he greeted with a stiff incline of his neck. She returned the gesture with a short and forced smile. Stuck-up bitch.

"Lucius, I've left everything you might need in your study," she said, slipping into his open arms with a flutter of her lashes. "You'll know how to reach me if you need to, sweetheart."

"Anything for you my lady," Lucius said and his voice was rich with seduction. Severus rolled his eyes and turned to watch the lame peacock amble after the others. "I'll see you in a month, darling. Have a wonderful time."

They exchanged a brief moment of passion and Severus was sure if he had not been present that it would have led somewhere inappropriate. He waited until the crack of apparition had resided before swirling on his heel and grabbing Lucius' cravat. "A month!" he spat, not caring if he strangled the man on his door step and was hauled to Azkaban.

"Severus, it's not all that-"

"You mentioned nothing of long term arrangements, Malfoy, you slithering old fiend!" he shouted and pushed past the man into the hall, making his way to the study.

"Now, Severus, let me explain," Lucius chided and closed the door behind them. He allowed his friend search through his liquor cabinet, restraining the urge to take the aged bottle of scotch from him – he had been saving that for a special occasion.

"I'm not even mad," Severus decided with a casual shrug after taking a slug of the scotch. Lucius would beg to differ as he tried to untangle the cravat that had tightened significantly around his throat. "And I'll tell you why – I won't be here for the month. I simply can't be."

"You're abandoning me?" Lucius puffed.

"Not in such harsh words, no. I've got classes to teach, Malfoy and you know this. I've also got exams to look over and reports to file. I just can't be here. So, no, I'm not abandoning you as you put it…I'm just not bothering to entertain you."

"Severus, don't do this," Lucius whined, filling his own tumbler and chanced an enticing flick of his grey eyes.

"I'm not doing anything other than what I said I would. I will remain here for the weekend and Monday morning I will return to Hogwarts." Lucius flopped onto a green leather armchair with a sigh. "Your dramatics won't work," Severus added, pouring another scotch.

"I'm not trying to make them work!" Lucius snapped, cringing when he realised how that sounded.

"I was just making sure."

A piercing cry echoed from outside the study door and Lucius groaned heavily. "Great, he's awake now," he muttered, setting his tumbler down and bellowing for Dobby.

The elf slipped through the study door, a flustered expression clouding its features and Severus was sure the elf would have been sweating, but he wasn't sure if house elves even could sweat.

"Yes, sirs?"

"Calm that child, Dobby. I need to get some things finalised in here and I can't be disturbed. Don't make me have to come out," he snarled, tossing his tumbler at the elf, which caught it skilfully. "Wash and polish these too. I won't be shown up in front of my guests with stained glassware. Now!"

"Yes, master," Dobby shrieked, flopping from the room.

"You see what I must live with?" Lucius grumbled.

"You live very fine, Malfoy. Seize your bitter whinging," Severus warned and banished his own glass, hoping it wasn't cherished because he had no idea where things went when he banished them. "I will be at Hogwarts during the week. When I can spare an evening then I will floo here and assist you. Otherwise, I cannot be much more help to you."

"That will do grand," Lucius thanked him. He summoned another tumbler and poured them a less valuable brew. "I appreciate this, my friend. I could never live with myself if I had agreed to allow Narcissa's mother care for Draco - that old hag would have never let me live it down! To the coming adventures!" he said, tipping his glass to Severus, who immediately regretted every agreeing to anything.

"UNCLE SEVERUS!"

He had enough time to shield his crotch before a tuft of blonde hair slammed into his stomach. "Omph!".

"Uncle Severus you're here! You came," Draco chirped, stringing his arms around the man's waist. Severus hoisted him up with a hesitant smile. "Father says you wouldn't 'cause you're too busy brewing useless potions and that you didn't like comin' around and that you were just goin' to be miserable and-"

"Draco!" Lucius barked, stamping his foot. "Shush, please."

"But you said that he'd be too busy sticking his nose in-"

"DRACO!"

Severus glowered over the tiny blonde's head. "Well, Draco, sometimes your father goes a little mad in the head. It's what happens to old people."

"Mother says he gets better with age," Draco explained, twisting one of Severus' many buttons. "I don't know what she means though."

"Count your blessings then," he grumbled, looking at the heated Malfoy elder with distaste.

"Draco, go play in the garden; the peacocks look lonely," Lucius commanded, picking Draco from Severus' chest like one would a soiled nappy.

"But you said not to sit on them anymore!" Draco snapped, crossing his arms moodily. "And asides, I'm staying with uncle-"

"DOBBY!" The elf appeared with a startling crack and a grimy wash cloth across his shoulder. "Take my son to the peacocks. Keep him busy, elf."

"Yes, sirs. Come, young master," Dobby squeaked, inching close enough to the fuming child, whose face was now twisting into a risky mask of daring boldness.

"I. SAID. I'M. NOT. GOING!" Draco screamed, flailing his arms against Dobby's grasp and leaving an echo of a tantrum when they crackled from the room.

"One would think he was stubborn the way he behaves," Lucius clucked, sipping brandy and ignoring the dirty look that Severus shot at him.

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Let me know what you think and also if there are any scenarios you'd like to see the boys in.
To come: Sirius makes himself pretty and Harry is adorable.