A/N: This chapter's a bit slow, but I have fun and evil thoughts for the next one. Perhaps even a little harry interaction. Enjoy!

Thirteen pages! A new record!

Chapter 4

A Muggle rented car had steadily driven them for nearly two hours before finally reaching their home.

Draco casually slipped a large sum of money to the man at the wheel as both Malfoys exited the vehicle and stood at their front gate.

"I don't much use the front gate." Draco explained idly as both men looked at the cast-iron gate that was beginning to rust. The start of curling vines and weeds were fighting their way around the metal bars to cover the gate completely.

"Obviously." Lucius responded with a bit of a sneer in his tone as he looked over the neglected gate.

Draco just shrugged it off. He didn't much care about the fence that bordered their home. It could be easily fixed if he had cared to try, but the neglected gate made the Manor that owned it seem even less inviting, and made any trespassers a bit more wary of the dangers that lay behind the looming gate.

"I think it's got character." Draco remarked calmly, and Lucius turned to stare at his son for a moment. Both father and son connected their gazes yet again, then returned their eyes to the gate and the Manor that overshadowed it.

Lucius reached up his hand and touched the metal bars reminiscently. "Home." He murmured, more to himself than for any other reason. Such a foreign word. Home. He had not had a home for an entire year. Now that was over though. Now he was home.

Though Lucius knew there was a slight hitch in his dream of home. His dream of home involved a certain handsome man with deep green eyes –but of course, what would his home be without Draco? Nothing; just as it wasn't quite complete without his mate.

As he looked over to Draco, he thought, I only have half a home so far, but we will be complete soon, Draco. You too fill feel the connection to Harry. It will be slight, but because Harry and I have always shared something, and you and I share something, then it only makes sense that you should feel something in his presence.

Lucius mused to himself that it was probably only Draco's cocky attitude that had forfeited their friendship from the get-go. Draco's misunderstood attachment to Harry through Lucius had caused Draco to act oddly when around Harry, and the younger veela had merely redirected that attachment to a more reasonable form of distribution. Hate. Holding true the saying though, 'There is only a fine line between love and hate.'

The front door swung open without so much as a creak and Lucius smiled inwardly. At least the house elves had remained on top of the maintenance of the house.

They stood in the foyer for a large amount of time as Lucius took in the familiar manor entrance. The place was eerily quiet, but it had a warm homely feeling to it that Lucius had more than always enjoyed. Whilst Lucius' gaze wandered around the foyer, Draco scrutinized his father's appearance.

Too skinny. No luster. His father used to radiate a presence of perfection and he had always wanted to radiate that same presence, but he had always thought it would be impossible to 'glow' more than his father. It startled him now, to be able to look at his father and know that he looked more impressive and well put-together. He had tried to remain silent all the way from the harbor home. It had been hard to stop the questions from flowing from his mouth, but he wanted his father to be the one to start the long conversation that he knew they should have. It didn't seem as if Lucius wanted to talk about anything though. He seemed just as content to keep his secrets the way he always had when Draco was younger.

Draco wouldn't allow that though. He was older now. He wasn't a child, and it had been he who had had to sustain his father for the past year. He deserved this conversation. He deserved to have all of his questions answered, and more importantly, he deserved to be able to have his father to himself for a while.

The young veela new his father would be craving his mate more and more now that he was capable to go searching for him, but… Draco's wants seemed to conflict with Lucius' wants, and Draco selfishly thought he deserved this small amount of time he'd asked for. He deserved to be awarded with his father's presence after all the labor and effort he'd put into helping his father.

He deserved something for compensation!

When Draco came back to himself he realized that Lucius had been staring at him for a while with a quiet calculating gaze.

Draco was about to speak his mind on the matter with some rather harsh words, but his father beat him to it.

"Draco." Lucius whispered, and he seemed nervous for the slightest of moments, but soon his gaze hardened into a firm smirk. "I'm sure you'd like to have a talk with me, but I'd rather not smell like a sewer a moment longer than necessary." He spoke, seeming to consent to his son deserving to be in control of the situation. After all, Draco had been the head of Malfoy Manor for an entire year –it wouldn't be simple for him to just give up that dominance, and as far as Lucius was concerned, he could have it after this week was over.

Draco began to feel his father wanting to take the lead again, so he decided to consent to what his father wanted. Did it really matter if they talked now, or after his father was clean and presentable to the world again? If he had been in Azkaban for a year as Lucius had, would he really want to keep that grime and smell on him one moment longer?

"Of course!" Draco laughed softly and a grin spread across his face. "Do you think I want to smell you any longer than necessary?" They smirked at one another. "Come down after your bath and meet me in the den so that we can converse." Draco added, feeling an odd sensation in the pit of his stomach for giving his father something akin to the commands he had received as a child.

Draco left for said den to pour himself some fire-whiskey whilst he waited for his father, and Lucius left to take the many staircases up to his bedroom that –as Draco had promised in one of his last letters- was blessedly free of his ex-wife.

It almost caused him to laugh aloud when Draco ordered him to do things like that. Their relationship had definitely changed completely the day Lucius told Draco who his mate was and how he would need to depend on Draco for an entire year to keep him living; obviously not in so many words, but he had known that things would be changing in Draco's mannerisms toward himself. It was just something that was bound to happen, and he had accepted that completely. He would be taking back his role as father eventually, but he and Draco would never have the same relationship they had shared when he was merely a dependant child.

The portraits along the halls were looming figures –each and every one of them with a firm sneer in place across their faces as they watched him disdainfully as he passed by. Not a one of the aristocratic portraits of the Malfoy line that he passed had been impudent enough to speak one word of his appearance as he passed.

He smirked evilly as he passed by one of his late aunt's portraits. She had been an ugly witch in his opinion, and when he had been an insolent child he had made fun of her every day that he had passed by her portrait. Her screams about his audacity had always followed him down the hall as he would dash off to lessons on something or other. He had always loved to torment her. It was almost like a hobby that neither of his parents had discouraged, but he had eventually realized that they were watching his idiosyncrasy to see when he would mature enough to stop such things and become a Malfoy without being constantly told to do so.

He had eventually stopped doing it every day, but the fun in it never wore off of him, even through his years as an adult.

"Hag!" He called glaring at her evilly as he passed in his smooth gait. She glared death at him as her eyes widened with outrage.

"You horrible blonde wretch! You are a disgrace to the Malfoy name with your betrayal to your wife and to the Dark Lord! You are the epitome of–" She shouted.

Her comments had so little effect on him, that he merely laughed at her attempts. He always loved playing with her because he always won with his elegant dismissal of her threats and curses.

"And you, my dear, are the epitome of every vial thing that exited Voldemort's body the moment he was killed." Lucius told her cheerily. "Cheers!" He saluted her as he rounded another corner to the wing of the manor that had belonged to himself and his ex-wife, but was now his alone to play with. His childhood room had been along this same wing, but he had wanted a different room for his marriage whilst still remaining near his favorite portrait.

"Lucius BLOODY Malfoy!" She screamed after him, her face flushed with how he had riled her up and ruined any kind of patient mask she had attempted to use to begin with. Nearly forty years of torment could do that to a portrait, Lucius mused. "I curse you and hope you never attract this new mate of yours!" She shouted after his retreating form as he made it to his door. "Who would want an ancient carcass like yours, with your thin hair and gangly frame anyway! Certainly no one worth enough to be married to a Malfoy!"

He drowned out her words as he opened his door and walked into the warm room. The house elves had lit the fire for him thankfully. The room was so large and had such large windows –even a balcony- that two huge fireplaces were necessary. Each fireplace was lit thankfully and the room had a content atmosphere to it.

Detail need not be described for the fantastical rooms. Lucius knew all of the rooms by heart and could find his way around the gallant furniture and beautiful Muggle paintings that hung along the walls. Works of Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt were a few of the personal works he had collected for his own amusement. (Though he appreciated Picasso's brilliance, he was not too fond of most of the man's works, so he therefore had not bothered buying one to display here.)

He had become enthralled with Muggle painting when he was merely a child and he had first seen the beauty of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam, and Rembrandt's The Sacrifice of Abraham. Of course, he hadn't been interested enough to learn much about the Muggle bible, but the paintings had been captivating. You didn't have to be religious in order to love those paintings. Lucius only wished that those painters had been alive when he was younger so that he could have employed them to making painting specifically for himself. It was really the only good thing about Muggles. They had no other decent qualities and were perfectly vial, but their arts were their one endearing quality.

As he entered his elaborate bathroom he realized that a bath had already been started for him in his musing –probably by one of his favorite house elves, Eva, who had been his personal elf since he was merely a child.

Stripping himself of his soiled clothes and tossing them into the corner to later be burned, he stepped up to a large mirror hanging against the wall with a thick metal border of bonze. He looked over his upper body with a grimace. His rib bones were a bit too visible for his liking. His skin had a sickly pasty texture that he immediately hated now that he could properly look himself over.

It was a good thing he would be resting with Draco for the week, or he would be worrying himself about his mate's reaction to his appearance. No. Everything was better this way.

Lucius stepped up his pace a bit as he remembered his son waiting for him to bathe and make his appearance again.

As Lucius finished letting his critical eye skim his own body, he walked over to the large steaming copper tub and submerged his body slowly with a throaty moan of appreciation for the temperature of the water. Eva must have added some of his favorite oils because the water smelled divine and he knew that wonderful scent would be seeping back into his skin once more.

After letting himself soak for five minutes or so, he took up a sponge and began to scrub off all the muck that had accumulated since his last washing –if one could call it that. (A small pail of filthy water to clean yourself with was not what would fall under Lucius' description of a washing. As far as he was concerned, he had remained filthy for an entire year, so this scrubbing would have to count for all of that.)

After nearly a quarter of an hour of scrubbing at ever nook and cranny of his body, Lucius had finally thrown the sponge into a waste basket at the far side of the room with an accurate throw and moved onto the mop of string on his head called hair. Something would have to be done. These dreads were not the silky golden locks Lucius had once prized of himself. After a few good washings, however, his hair would be up to par for any hand to run through it, especially Harry's.

His fingers began to massage oils into his scalp that had always kept the dandruff away, then came the actual washing with sweet smelling thick concoctions that he had been special ordering since he had hit his teenage years.

Ah! So many small luxuries that he had missed entirely too much.

He exited the bathroom -nearly completely dry- with a long towel wrapped around his thin waist.

Lucius was startled out of his thoughts of his soon-to-be lover when he heard his son's voice echo through the room.

"You're thinner than I thought." Draco commented as his eyes caught on his father's ribs for a moment. "What would you like Eva to bring us to eat while we talk?"

Lucius looked around the room again and caught sight of the familiar looking house elf. The barest of smiles graced his lips at the familiarity of her. She had always been a constant through his ever-changing life, and that was always something that he appreciated.

"I suppose a tray of meat, vegetables, and fruit with pumpkin juice and a phial of nutrients potion would be sufficient." He told her gently.

She bowed her head to him and disappeared with a small pop.

With that taken care of Lucius returned his gaze to his son.

"Did you need something?" He asked him as they remained still.

"No." Draco answered coolly. "I merely decided that it would be more comfortable, and less walking for you, if we spoke and ate up here." The veela responded and Lucius could here the hint of concern in his voice.

Instead of overreacting and fighting back against the thoughts his son was having of him being an invalid in some way, he decided it was nice to have someone worrying about him for a change. Perhaps he would allow Draco this platonic worry for him.

"Very well." Lucius bobbed his head once, then made his way around his son as he strode into the bedroom and searched his wardrobe. There were two wardrobes; one on either side of the extraordinarily large bed that sat in the middle of the room against the far wall.

The other wardrobe would most likely be empty since it had been Narcissa's for the many years that she had lived beside him. He shivered at the memory of her slobbery kisses that he had endured for the better part of two decades.

Torture. He thought blearily as he imagined how his mate would kiss him, and how they would spend the rest of eternity by one another's side –waking up in the same bed after a night of heated passion…

Lucius had apparently been taking too long with his apparel decision as Draco came up on his side and quickly pulled pajama trousers and a leisurely loose white blouse out of his closet, handing them quickly to his father before exiting the bedroom to impatiently await his father in the sitting room.

The older veela chuckled as his son left the room. Impatient little brat. He thought lovingly of his son as he began to dress after grabbing boxers as well. He imagined Draco had chosen these pajamas for him so that he would get that hint that Draco wanted him to rest after their talk. Presumptuous, insolent… He began thinking with a warm smile. It put a warm feeling his heart to know that even though he had been somewhat impatient and cold to Draco as a father, that Draco had still realized how much he loved him and Draco had turned out as the perfect Malfoy in the end. Whether he wore a constant mask of indifference to the world anymore, Lucius didn't care. He just wanted his son to be happy. After all that Draco had done for him, he at least deserved that pleasure of running his own life without Lucius' opinions of his exploits. Draco was well brought up. He wouldn't do anything too stupid in life, and the older veela had great confidence that his son would uphold the pride of the Malfoy name throughout the ages that he lived.

It took moments to quickly dress, and a few minutes more to brush out his elongated blonde tresses. He felt that he needed a haircut, but he didn't have the time at the moment.

He stepped out into his sitting room barefoot and enjoyed the simple pleasure of wiggling his toes in the extremely plush carpet beneath his feet.

Simple pleasures.

For a moment he closed his eyes and wondered suddenly how erotic it would be to make love to Harry on this carpet, in front of the fire. Lucius fought the groan that was beginning to work its way up his throat.

He sat down on the long couch quickly before Draco could properly notice the turn his thoughts had suddenly taken.

A tantalizing scent caught his attention and Lucius looked down at the landslide of food that was laid out on the coffee-table.

Draco was seated comfortably in a fluffy lounge chair on his right with a half-eaten apple in one hand, and a goblet of pumpkin juice in the other. With a nod to the food, Draco gestured for him to eat before they talked.

Lucius eyed the food hungrily. He knew it would disturb his stomach badly if he jumped from what his small portions used to be before to suddenly all of this exquisite food in large amounts. He needed to pace himself. Eat a fair amount of only the healthy food now, then slightly more food at the next meal, and perhaps more meats by dinnertime, and so on. He would have to gradually work himself back to total health without causing a terribly upset stomach pains and digestion problems.

He picked up a pear and started to slowly eat it with small sips of pumpkin juice every now and then. A bit of plain bread, eaten with the banana came next. Lucius suddenly had the craving for applesauce –feeling that his stomach wasn't strong enough to actually manage an apple yet, and thinking it needed more juices. With a snap of his fingers and a slight call through his magical channel, Lucius summoned Eva and she popped up a moment later.

"Yes, Master Lucius?" She squeaked with a slow bow. She must have been quite old in house-elf-years considering she had been living since his great grandparents' time.

"Eva, would you bring me a bowl of applesauce please?"

She bowed before she popped away without a word. Lucius really didn't need to ask. She would do anything he told her to, but he kindly asked anyway, and she in return obeyed without a word or argument.

It took less than a minute for her to pop back up again and place a bowl with a fair amount of applesauce in it, on the table in front of Lucius.

"Very good." He told her and she popped away with a slight coloration to her cheeks. Usually he said nothing to her after her task was completed, but whenever he showed appreciation, it always caused her to blush deeply.

"Father." Draco called to him as Lucius picked up the bowl and began to slowly eat spoonfuls of the sauce.

Lucius glanced over to Draco with a calm gaze after his first spoonful. It really was quite good. Eva must add something to the concoction to make it taste sweeter. He really did appreciate her gestures to him.

Narcissa had once gone away on a trip to visit her cousin of some sort and a side of her family that Lucius didn't care to remember, but she had insisted on taking Eva with her for the visit. Lucius had fought her tooth and nail on the subject, but she wouldn't relent. Eva was their finest house elf, so of course Narcissa wanted her along, but Lucius didn't want Eva going and leaving him. He couldn't stand the other house elves. None of them had been with him as long as Eva had. None of them had tended to his every need like her. So of course, all of them irritated him all the while that Eva was away with Narcissa. That had been the year that Dobby had become his servant whilst he had visited Hogwarts. It had been when he had lost Dobby to his mate. How ironic? It had really only been part of that irritation with everything that he had snapped and lost his temper. He really didn't miss the stupid elf. He was glad the traitorous little thing wasn't there anymore. Eva was much better, and now she was his servant again. He shared her with no one because Draco had his own personal elf named Lokey.

"So, Father." Draco tried again, interrupting Lucius' train of thought. "What are your plans?"

Lucius wasn't about to reply to that until Draco had clarified his meaning, so he took another spoonful of sauce and waited for his son.

"Plans to engage Potter." Draco clarified once he'd realized the issue of his father's silence.

Lucius sat up straight on the couch and leaned back onto the cushions with the sauce in his lap, and the spoon hovering over the bowl in his other hand. The older veela thought on that question for a long while before answering.

"I've thought of how I could meet him without causing suspicion. I've wondered whether it would be smart or not to send him a formal declaration of my intentions with him, or if I should find out where he lives and works to be able to meet him coincidentally one day. Nothing seems right."

Draco seemed to sit calculatingly for a moment before taking a sip of wine from his goblet. Lucius realized Draco must have helped himself to his wine supply cabinet in the other corner sometime whilst he had been dressing. He looked so mature whilst drinking like that. Lucius got the distinct impression of it being himself when he was younger instead of Draco. How odd that they were so alike in mannerisms, yet wasn't that how all Malfoys were? No. Not all. Many were power-hungry asses, who refused to enjoy life at all. He had met several men like this throughout his life, and even some women as such, but he had firmly decided that neither he nor his son would ever turn out like that.

"Your thoughts keep straying." Draco announced to his father. "Where do they go, I wonder?" He murmured with a smirk changing his features.

"No." Lucius smiled slightly at his son. He could not remember smiling so much in his entire life, but after a year of sadness and emotionless moments, one tended to find everything contrary to that to be worthy of a smile. "Believe my words or not, I was thinking of you instead of my mate." Lucius told his son warmly and it seemed to brighten Draco's eyes. "How have you and Blaise been? Is he still the one to cause a sparkle in your eye?" The older veela wondered calmly.

Draco seemed to relax with the topic. "Yes." He spoke dreamily. "He is a quite amazing lover. The git seems to always win our arguments with a kiss to my cheek and the murmured words 'I love you' in my ear. I can't seem to keep myself angry with him."

"Do you love him?" Lucius asked curiously.

"I believe I have great feelings for him, but love is a great uncertainty with me. I can't… I can't distinguish what love is supposed to be." The younger blonde admitted and looked miserably toward his father, as if begging his counsel.

Lucius gave his son an understanding frown. "The only love I've ever known was my love for you, Draco." Lucius conceded. "Now that I know I have a mate, I feel like my life is just beginning and I feel I am now learning to yearn for what you are speaking. I am yearning for a love with my mate, but I can no more easily tell you what love is than tell you what a soul looks like. That seems to be just something that everyone –even myself- must figure out on their own." The older veela told his son, who nodded in understanding.

"I suppose." Draco sighed and a pregnant pause formed between them. What was there to talk about now? What subjects could be breached? Which should be breached? Should they…?

"Draco." Lucius cut off Draco's thoughts and snapped the gray eyes to his own silver orbs. "Why is the dark mirror missing from the entryway of the Manor?"

The younger blonde had to think about that for a moment. The mirror? That dreadful thing that used to connect Narcissa to the Black family and Mrs. Black in particular? Why would it not be there? Why was his father just suddenly asking about this particular item now? Draco narrowed his gaze in thought as he pondered things before returning his eyes to his father.

"Oh." He spoke with a sigh. He remembered now. "About four months after you were placed in Azkaban the Ministry felt it necessary to invade the Malfoy Manor in search for any dark objects that I may still choose to use to harm people. They felt it necessary to have an official come over here and look around the place to make sure nothing dangerous was left privy to me to use for my own evil will." The youth spoke venomously and with heavy sarcasm. "In short, they didn't trust the heir of Lucius Malfoy, infamous Death Eater, not to be evil. On the first –unexpected and un-forewarned- visit they took the mirror along with several unimportant trinkets of Mother's." Draco shrugged off the topic.

"Did they search the Manor thoroughly? How did they not take anything important?" Lucius questioned with a slight crease to his pale face. "I don't recall having time to lock anything up properly. All the books and potions ingredients and–"

Draco cut Lucius' worry off with a swish of his hand in gesture for him to remain calm. "I made an agreement with the official and anything that wasn't entirely obviously dark was overlooked. It was as simple as that."

The tone Draco used made Lucius think there was more to the topic, but he remained silent… for now.

"Father, you seem…" Lucius watched as his son stumbled for a word –using his hands to try and accentuate what he was trying to say. This amused the veela because he had never seen his son do such a thing. (Another acquired habit from the past year. He guessed.) "… sane." Draco finished finally.

For a moment the older blonde was caught off-guard. Sane? Well of course he was sane thanks to Draco, but… oh. He understood.

"You mean to say, I don't seem to have been affected by the Dementors?" Lucius queried with a raised brow -as elegant as always. Draco nodded numbly. He wasn't sure if he was broaching a bad topic with his father, to be talking about Azkaban so soon. Lucius sighed heavily as he pondered his words. "Well, yes, I would of course be more sane than any other ding-bat. I had you through it all." Lucius told his son in a moment of tenderness. They both exchanged a glance of appreciation before Lucius hardened his features again. "I was meaning to ask you about this as well. When I was placed in Azkaban I was in a medium security area. Perhaps one Dementor went by a day. I didn't understand why my punishment was so light, but the only excuse I could come up with is that someone had spoken to the Ministry about my well-being and I assumed it was you."

The other man's eyes widened comically as he shook his head. "I hadn't even thought of that, to be totally honest with you. I didn't think it would be possible, and I hardly believed anything that I could say would have any effect on what they would do for you." Draco shrugged. "Perhaps Severus spoke on your behalf." Draco suggested. This was quite curious indeed. Curious indeed.

"I hardly think the Ministry would care either way of what Severus would have to say to them. They will always look down upon him for being a Death Eater, even if he was a spy." Lucius stroked his chin roughly as he thought over the possibilities.

"Any influences left in the Ministry?" Draco asked thoughtfully.

"No. No. My foothold in the Ministry left with my incarceration." Lucius shook his head, as if to rid himself of the troubled thought.

Draco decided he didn't want to trouble his father with more thoughts just now. He smiled inwardly and turned back to his father for a more genial conversation.

"What would you like to do today?" Draco wondered with a gentle voice. "I imagine you'd like to rest, and in a proper bed, but I was thinking more toward the later portion of the day. It is hardly noon now. I believe it would be good for you to rest until dinner time, then we can either talk again or play a chess game perhaps?" The younger veela asked, his brow raised.

Lucius looked up to his son and offered a small smile of acceptance. "Rest sounds perfect, and perhaps a chess match later and an evening walk after dinner through the gardens."

Draco's smile faltered for a moment, then he laughed it off a bit nervously. "Of course." He stood, placing his drink down onto the table. "I shall have the gardens prepared and set a meal going for dinner with the House Elves."

Lucius watched as his son left his room quickly. He smirked as he watched the smaller man retreat from the room to hastily make for the kitchens. He guessed that the gardens weren't in the best of shape at the moment, but perhaps by the next time he was awake, they would be.

A/N: This took a while, but I wanted to make it long and leave it off at a good part. Hopefully it wasn't too boring. I know not much happened, but I promise stuff will begin happening in the next chapter. Perhaps even a 'Harry sees Lucius again' moment if I get to it. –shrugs- I suppose that depends on if my reviewers motivate me into it or not. I might just leave off at a cliffy. -ominous note-

The beautiful and wonderful reviewers!

Ura-hd: Eh, sorry if this chapter was a bit lacking. It takes a bit of time to set the stage for the fun-ness. It's coming soon though. I can feel it in my fingers.

SweetPea-fairy: I'm happy the luvy-duvy shit didn't throw you off. You'll see it here and there, but a lot more after the relationships start to advance. Glad to hear from you as always. Sorry it took so long. I was working on this little by little, and it is much longer than my other chapters so I hope that made up for its tardiness.

Death-by-inkpen: Thanks for the review, even if you were in a rush, I'm glad you still took the time to review. My ever-faithful writing buddy. –kisses-

Fragonknight01: Well, okay, 'fragon' it is. –chuckle- I wonder what you think of the story and it's pace? Do you have a favorite character? Any special requests I might be able to incorporate?

Layce74: SO glad you love it! –giggles- I promise to keep writing if you keep reviewing. –chuckle- Tell me what you like about the story? Who's your least favorite character in the Harry Potter books? I feel like killing someone off. –smiles- Well, I didn't mean it like that, but… anyway… thanks for reviewing. –kisses-

Strega: Holy crap! Your review was so LONG! It was fantastic! Thanks so much! I'm glad you like how Lucius is still himself. I strive not to change the characters too much. And the mushiness was a personal favorite of mine. Not too much between Lucius and Draco in my radar's future, but some. Probably a lot more between Harry and Luc once the relationship gets moving. You're so observant! It's wonderful. It makes me feel like I've done my job well as a writer. –kisses- You're awesome! Thanks. –blush-

Daftmeg: Ah, I see you're also looking forward to the Harry/Lucius meeting. Who the hell wouldn't be? –chuckle- It's coming. Along with the drama and angst and all that fun stuff. I'm looking forward to writing it just as much.

Jo Raven: Hi! Jenna!

You changed your pen name!

Cool.

Sorry it took so long to update.

I promise to try and be better about it.

-smile-hands out cookie-dough to make up for it-

ShatteredxDream: yes, long live L/H slash! All major fans raise their hands! –raises both hands and toes- Glad to hear you're enjoying the slashiness. It will progress to more of the meetings thing in a chapter or two. Maybe the next one will be a cliffy if I feel evil. –grins-

A-Brighter-Dawn: Ha! You updated, so I updated. Tuche! (I probably spelt that wrong.) I made you cry? Really? –sniffle- Thanks! That's like the ultimate compliment. I could kiss you! I'll make you a deal. I'll update when you do. –smile- Fair?

Dark-Fairie161: The HP/LM stuff is on the run-way, and waiting to come in for a landing. I promise it'll be happening soon. Enjoy!

Anna May: As long as you like the lovy-duvy stuff, then in it shall go. –chuckle- I'll only put it in if you guys like it. Blow-pops and pocky? Sure. Why not?

Elizabeth Annette: Thanks. Glad that you like the story. Harry will be meeting Lucius again… very soon.

Xikum: -blush- You make me feel like writing a zillion pages each chapter. That's why this was so long. It just took a little longer to come out because it was so long. Eh, I tried to email you to tell you that my author-alerts have been working just fine, but I couldn't access your email on your account. I think something is just wrong with the website. I tried though. I'm sorry I couldn't email you, but thank you so much for reviewing and looking for me even if the author alert didn't work!

Lanku: Thanks for your words. The luvy duvy stuff remains, but not as heavily. I promise.

Immortal Memories: You make me laugh. It's great that you like the story. I hope you continue to read and review.