Hey everyone! Long time, no see. But I hope you all are doing well.

Three quick things:

1) This chapter comes in 2 parts because it is horribly long and I haven't had all the time to type it all up. This is better than you think though, because this story is only about 4 parts, so this means you get 1 more part/section than originally planned. It's a bit shorter than the last one, but no less enjoyable (I hope).

2) Next, an awesome reader (DZAuthor AKA DZMom) pointed out that Lucius is older than Severus and thus they would not be attending school together. And, indeed, she is right! But since this story is more than slightly A.U, I hope you all won't hate me too much for changing up the time lines a bit.

3) Keep in mind this story takes place over a lifetime, so most parts so there are years between each part/section. For example, 3.1 takes place about 3 years after the most recent part. Hope that helps. If it is still confusing, please tell me and I can explain/change things.

This part and the next part you will hear some straight from the thoughts of lovely Lucius. Enjoy :)

And as always, thanks to nuclear_glitter for being an amazing beta.

Part 3.1

The wedding invitation was placed under a large stack of dusty, old research books, but a curved edge poked out from underneath the stack. An irked Severus stared upon it. A few red strands were weaved along the sides, the same hue of her hair. He waved his wand and the edge disappeared under the stack.

"My, my Severus. Still sulking over trivial matters, I presume?" a cool voice chuckled behind him.

He refused to turn around or respond.

"Well…" An aristocratic hand draped itself dramatically across the top of Severus's maroon and brown armchair. The hand mindlessly stroked a dark locket as he continued. "What is bothering you, my dear Severus?"

A few years ago, this would have been said with a loving tone, but now it was mocking and distrustful. Lucius wanted him to say something foolish to bring back to the Dark Lord. Severus knew of his manipulations of others to get higher in the ranks and was careful of what he said.

Not only that, but Malfoy always seemed to doubt Snape's loyalty. He didn't understand where these doubts even took root because there was no possible way for him to ever change his loyalties from the Dark Lord. At times, he wondered if it was jealousy but he had much less power, wealth, and prestige than Lucius.

Furthermore, what was most infuriating was Lucius innate talent for arriving at any inconvenient moment for others. At that very second, Lily Evans was becoming Lily Potter. It sickened Severus down to the smallest piece of matter in his body. It had taken him years to realize it, but he loved her. Since the first time he had spoken to her and she had given him one of her wild smiles after finding out she wasn't some magical freak, he had loved her.

She had cared about him when no one else had. She even defended him when their relationship was at odds. Now, she had sent him an invitation to her wedding and he hadn't had the courage to reply. He knew the Dark Load would be most displeased to hear about him acting this way toward a "mudblood"; the mere fact he had thought about attending would certainly inspire only the most severest of reactions.

Lucius moved his hand under the hair line so it brushed against soft skin.

Severus held back a comment he would regret. Lucius was high in the ranks and had the ability to get whatever he wished for. If Lucius wanted Severus to jump out that window, he would have to do if or face false accusations and harsh punishment.

Severus whispered something and the wedding invitation burst into flames.

The other man sighed. "Something to hide, Severus?" he murmured into Severus's ear.

He rose from his seat and began to wave his wand about to move items, such as a kettle onto the oven top. "I apologize. My home is not as acceptable as it should be for a visit such as yours," he spoke impassively. "Would you like tea?"

Lucius raised a manicured eyebrow, using a graceful finger to brush aside some hair to the back of his ear. He placed his unneeded cane down on the table and slid out of his royal blue wizarding robe, which magically flew over to the coat rake. He walked over to Severus slowly. His dragonhide dress shoes clicked against the wooden ground as he stared intently at Severus.

When he reached him, he leaned in and whispered, "Tea is not the entertainment I wish to have provided for me during this meeting, Severus."

Severus deepened his frown. "We haven't done that in many years. Certainly it would be most impro—"

Malfoy chuckled. "It is not an easy thing to forget how to do. And neither of us have been much distraught over what is and isn't improper."

"Lucius, you may join me for a cup of tea if you are so inclined—"

Lucius crashed against other wizard's dark, rose mouth. He held Severus's face tightly as they meshed and molded their mouths, tongues, and teeth against one another. Oddly, they both kissed with equal vigor, but for different reasons one kissed for love and longing, while the other kissed because of the years's of vacancy of human physical contact.

A hand slid here, clothes fell down there, a frenzy to remember a time where it didn't mean anything because now it was the only thing they had.


He pulled the shrilly screaming kettle off the stone and poured the water into two large, maroon mugs with tea bags. Severus hadn't stirred from the bed yet, but Lucius wanted everything to be perfect when he awoke. He left one of the mugs on the stove to stay warm and took the other with him to drink on the armchair next to the bed.

Severus's flat was small. Lucius didn't understand why he preferred to live here instead of his much more spacious home in Spinner's End. Nonetheless, it was well kept and filled with Potion and Dark Arts books, many of whom he remembered the Dark Lord had suggested for them to view. Despite the fact it was overall very welcoming, it stood over a crowded London Street where one could hear foul-mouthed tourists and locals mingling with badgering venders egging them on.

It irked him that Severus lived here. A few years after Severus's apprenticeship had ended, Lucius had proposed and was turned away with only a "no." Although he wanted to destroy him for it, he swallowed his pride and not six months ago married a pretty, pureblood girl named Narcissa. She was a nice enough girl and rarely spoke out of turn, but she bored him. Her opinions were always mundane and basic. She did not seem to realize sex was more than just a way to procreate, but could be reinvented in experimental and pleasurable ways. She bent to his will much too easily.

But Severus...he always challenged him. He rarely did what Lucius told him to do if he could help it. The challenge was exciting. On the rare occasions where he got the prize of beating Snape at his own mind game, he was still a happy man who crazed for more.

He remembered the first time he saw Severus Snape. It was their first year, Herbology class. The two had been partners. Lucius's first thought was that he was one of the most beautiful people he had ever seen. The nose, the unnaturally deep voice, and intelligent eyes—it all went downhill from that day. He had hoped he had had a chance, until he heard about the dark haired boy's infatuation with that red-headed mudblood, Lily Evans, and his obvious heterosexuality. This all not excluding the fact he had a clear disliking of the Malfoy heir.

Gratefully, an opportunity had arose, he had seized it, and look where he was sitting now. Admittedly, this was probably not where he was supposed to be, but it was better than having another uncomfortably polite conversation with Narcissa .

Lucius examined Severus's body with a keen eye. He had put on a little weight since they had their last affair all those years ago when Severus had fist gone to Italy, but it was only weight that came with age. His legs were long, sprawled out and intertwining with the sheets. His arms were flung to each side and his face was partially covered with rings of rich, black hair. He still kept his hair cut to about his chin and didn't seem to have any plans on changing the style.

There were times when Lucius wondered if Severus had ever really changed at all. He used to believe that one day Severus would fall in love with him, but he held no hope in that any longer. He also used to have this uncomfortable feeling that he was simply being used to satisfy the carnal needs of another. He would always brush it aside and remember all the good times they had had when sex wasn't involved, no matter how seldom they were.

He knew Severus would never truly be sexually attracted to him. So he went for a new method: flattery. He stayed because Lucius gave him his every wish. Severus wasn't selfish; he simply wasn't used to being treated with such high regard. It was like giving someone drugs for free: just a sample first, but sooner or later they become more addicted, and that comes with a higher price. Severus's form of payment was sex. Not so bad.


What do you think? Please send me reviews! The last part there were not many, and your reviews really make my whole month. I read them whenever I'm feeling down, crazy, or need inspiration. Thank you to all of you!

-invsibleindiekid