Thanks, everyone, for your continued support . it really does make me happy! :D

And I'd also like to single out Imera who gave me lots of ideas quite a while ago but I decided to use one of them here seeing as my ideas have been RAPIDLY running out!!

D:

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter =]

Chapter Forty Four

Harry's POV

Harry knew exactly how Lucius was feeling. The fact that Draco was tortured due to Lucius' betrayal would be hard to ignore. It was how Harry had felt after the graveyard... if he had just taken the cup without Cedric, then Cedric would still be alive. If he hadn't rushed to the Department of Mysteries then Sirius wouldn't have had to come and save him.

Yes, Harry knew how Lucius felt all too well.

"Let's... let's get out of here," Harry said to Lucius firmly. He stood up and held his hand out for the man to take. However, standing above Lucius, Harry felt scared; the man seemed so small and Harry had never seen Lucius show any weakness in front of him before.

When the man didn't show any sign of taking Harry's hand, Harry took the man's hand in his own and pulled.

"Lucius, it's... it's not your fault," Harry said when he had managed to haul Lucius up. "Draco should have known what would happen if he told Voldemort that."

The man merely nodded weakly and let Harry guide him away from the dance.

Harry led the man round the back way to avoid going through the crowd. No words were exchanged as Harry and Lucius made their way to the third floor, so to say Harry felt awkward was an understatement. He too was feeling guilty for Draco – true, he didn't like the young blonde, but he wouldn't wish the Cruciatus curse on anyone.

Lucius is probably pissed at me... I've hurt his son...

When they reached Lucius' office Harry watched Lucius go in as he waited in the doorway.

"Well... I should be... I should go," he said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

He turned away but was pulled inside by a hand gripping his arm.

"Stay tonight, Harry," Lucius said, his face void of all emotion which Harry found somewhat disturbing.

He nodded slowly and let the man pull him in.

Harry looked at Lucius' despondent expression and raised a hand to hold his cheek. He caressed it, hoping to put as much empathy in the touch as he could. He then stood on his tiptoes and kissed him softly.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Lucius mumbled through the kiss. "I didn't mean for you to see me like this."

Harry smiled and kissed Lucius' cheek. "Don't be stupid."

"I'm tired; come to bed?"

"Of course," Harry said as he twined his fingers through Lucius'.

They made their way to the back room – Lucius' quarters – and stripped down to their boxers; it was quite a humid night for winter.

Harry got in on the right side – it was his side when he slept in Lucius' bed – and Lucius crawled into the left side, edging closer to Harry.

As they lay together, Harry noticed something different; Lucius was leaning on Harry. He hadn't realised it but the man had made sure he was wrapped under Harry's arm, his head in the crook of Harry's neck.

"Harry?" came Lucius' muffled voice.

"Mm?"

There was a pause.

Then, "Can you be the man tonight?"

* * *

"Harry! Where were you last night?" Ron demanded after joining Harry at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

"Where did you go after the dance?" Hermione asked sitting opposite the two boys.

Harry left Lucius' room around half six without waking the man up; he felt it would have been too awkward for them both, especially after Lucius had shown so much emotion. However, knowing he would get this interrogation, Harry had come up with an excuse last night.

"I... I wasn't supposed to say but Professor Dumbledore asked me to help him with something."

He could feel the guilt building up in his chest. He was lucky Dumbledore wasn't at the dance yesterday; he wouldn't know what to say otherwise.

"He what?!" Ron exclaimed while Hermione squealed and whispered, "About what?"

"Just... the prophecy," Harry murmured. "Listen, can we talk about this later? I still haven't got my head round it."

Fortunately Harry found this subject hard to talk about so hopefully it made him sound more convincing.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said leaning forwards. "Are you worried?"

Harry forced a grin. "A bit... but I know Dumbledore will leave me prepared."

The two left it after that, content with Harry's answer. However, Harry still felt awful lying to his best friends.

"What do we have first?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts," Hermione answered immediately.

Ah, a lesson with Lucius, Harry thought. I wonder if he'll be up to teaching today...

When they got to the third floor, Harry remembered last night... He was up here supporting Lucius; he had never seen the man act so dependant and that had disturbed him.

Without wasting any time, Harry made his way into the classroom, ignoring the queue outside. Seeing Harry enter, other students began filing in. However, once he was inside, Harry noticed that Lucius was nowhere to be seen.

"I wonder where he is," Hermione said.

Harry wanted to know too; was Lucius okay? Would he come in to teach today?

The class waited at least ten minutes until, finally, Lucius entered look rather worse for wear.

"Take out your textbooks and answer the summary questions on wandless magic. You have twenty minutes."

Harry narrowed his eyes; Lucius never set book work. Nevertheless, Harry fumbled around in his back for his book and a quill. He mentally slapped himself as he realised he had left his quill in his dormitory from two nights ago when he had tried finishing Snape's essay.

"Hermione," he whispered, "do you have a spare quill? I think I left mine in –"

"Potter, no talking," Lucius snapped.

Harry scowled.

Hermione shook her head disapprovingly as she gave Harry one of her spare quills.

"Thanks," he mouthed at her with a wink.

Lucius' POV

Lucius still hadn't recovered from what he heard last night. Draco was to kill someone... his only son was lost to the Dark, probably forever. He'd been under the Cruciatus curse because of Lucius which could only provoke Draco's hatred for him. It was only now that he realised how serious and dangerous his relationship with Harry was, though he wouldn't change it for the world.

When Lucius had woken up he expected to find Harry there but, of course, he'd had to get his things ready for his class and get to breakfast.

He felt strangely lonely without Harry beside him; in all his life he had never felt this weak or delicate. He supposed it was good that he was finally letting it all out, though.

Lucius stayed in bed for an extra half hour, not feeling the need to get up. However, soon enough he realised he had half an hour to get ready for his next class.

Hurriedly he got out of bed and pulled out some random clothes. It was lucky he wasn't very hungry seeing as he would have no time to have breakfast.

When he was dressed he made his way to his class, placing a strong expression on his face.

"Take out your textbooks and answer the summary questions on wandless magic. You have twenty minutes."

Today he didn't feel up to practical teaching. Besides, a bit of theory would do the brats some good.

He reached his desk and slumped into his chair, wishing his desk wasn't at the very front of the class where everyone could see him, including Harry.

He looked up to find Harry and felt an urge to hold the boy and thank him for last night, especially after not seeing him this morning. He'd just have to get him in trouble so as to give them a private moment in his office. Fortunately Harry was muttering something to Granger which gave him a great excuse to begin his mission of getting Harry into trouble.

"Potter, no talking," he snapped.

Harry glared at him through confused eyes but Lucius merely ignored it and pretended to mark some papers. Really he was trying to think of a way to call Harry into his office.

After ten minutes of thinking, Lucius finally came to the conclusion that he himself would have to make some sort of disruption and blame it on Harry.

So, after checking that all heads were bent over their work, Lucius began scribbling down insults about himself, writing petulant things like, "Traitor", "Death Eater", and "Bastard" – in Harry's handwriting – next to a reasonably amusing caricature of himself.

He then cast a silent Wingardium Leviosa charm so the small piece of paper flew over the heads of the pupils and positioned itself under Harry's desk. He then made it soar up to the ceiling where it sparked fireworks, catching the attention of all the students in his class.

"Who is responsible for that?" Lucius bellowed. He waited for a moment before continuing. "I asked a question and I want an answer!"

No one raised their hands – obviously – so Lucius strode over to where the piece of paper was floating; above Harry's head.

"Is there any reason it is above your head, Mr Potter?" he asked, looking down at the baffled boy.

"No, I –"

"Silence," Lucius hissed. He reached up to grab it and studied it for a moment as though he didn't already know what was on it.

"This looks awfully similar to your handwriting, Potter," he said. "Do you know why?"

"Honestly, sir! I didn't do that!"

Lucius sniffed.

"My office, now. Either you own up or we take this to your Head of House."

Harry stared at Lucius, realisation suddenly emerging on Harry's face. However, the smart boy was quick to replace it with annoyance.

"Fine, but I didn't do it."

Harry's Mudblood friend looked outraged.

"Please, Professor Malfoy; how can you accuse Harry of doing something without proof?"

"The fact that it is his handwriting seems sufficient proof to me, Miss Granger." And with that he stalked out of the classroom and into his office, waiting for Harry to enter.

As soon as the boy reached the office, Lucius shut the door and put silencing charms up.

"I'm sorry but I haven't had my fix today," Lucius whispered, approaching Harry with a predatory glint in his eyes.

"Fix?" Harry asked, obviously unnerved at Lucius' desperation. "What f–"

But Lucius had pulled Harry vigorously towards him and was now passionately kissing the boy's lips.

"Nng... L-Luc... don't... don't you think this is a bit... huhhhh... desperate?" Lucius was now sucking and biting softly on Harry's neck, pushing Harry's collar aside so as to reach more of the soft flesh.

"You weren't there this morning," he muttered. "I missed you."

The boy leant his head to the side, offering Lucius as much of his neck as possible.

"I don't think... we should..." But Harry never finished, for Lucius' hand had found a small, but growing bulge in Harry's trousers.

He backed Harry up into the wall so the boy was nearly crushed, but began grinding his hips onto Harry's, needing more friction on his painful, straining erection.

"Merlin," Harry breathed.

"My name's Lucius," Lucius said with a smirk. "Say my name, Harry..."

He pressed their bodies further together and heard Harry croak out, "Lucius..."

There had always been a link from Harry's voice when he said Lucius' name that connected to Lucius' cock.

It twitched as Harry groaned his name in lust.

"Say it again," Lucius purred in Harry's ear.

"Lu–" But an importunate voice interrupted.

"Please, Professor Malfoy, but I still think this is completely –"

Lucius whipped around and found Hermione Granger who seemed to be frozen by Petrificus Totalus.

Hermione's POV (!)

"That's completely unfair!" Hermione exclaimed to Ron. "He had absolutely no evidence that said Harry wrote that note!"

"It did look like Harry's writing, 'Mione. But! Let me finish!" For Hermione had started glaring at her red-haired friend for his lack of faith in his best friend. "I didn't see him write that note so it can't have been Harry."

"Exactly," Hermione said satisfied. "But to resort to telling Professor McGonagall is just utterly uncalled for."

"Yeah, that is a bit extreme," Ron said. "Wait, where are you going?"

Hermione had stood up, grabbing the attention of the class.

"To tell Professor Malfoy that Harry didn't do it; we were sat next to him all this time, therefore we would have seen if Harry had written that note."

"Yeah, but you can't go storming into his office!"

Hermione said nothing but stormed to the back door, pushed it open and immediately started her lecture on how unfair it was to convict Harry without proof.

"Please, Professor Malfoy," she said as she closed the door behind her, "but I still think this is completely –"

She stopped and stared at the shocking image before her; Harry, backed against the wall with Lucius Malfoy... his hands all over her poor friend.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to him?" she shrieked. She reached for her wand but before she could think up a spell Malfoy had already stunned her.

...

Just like Draco all over again, eh?

;)