5th of August, 1995

Lucius rapped the silver head of his cane on the front door of the apartment. He knew that Percy often worked into the evening, but he did so hope that he would be at home now. Home. Lucius' apartment was Percy's home, now. Lucius tried to dampen his grin, but there was little he could do about the warmth which that idea added to his loins. It would be such a little step from here: one which he hoped might be accomplished tonight.

The door opened slowly, cautiously. Percy's big blue eyes were followed by a surprised "Oh!" sound.

"I did say that I would visit you, my boy."

"Yes. But, I mean, it's your place. I didn't expect you to knock on the front door."

"My dear," Lucius said, as he swept in uninvited, "it is your home now. It would hardly be proper for me to just Floo in on a whim, now would it? You could be doing anything." He allowed his voice to drop into a seductive tone, and ran his eyes over Percy's body as he spoke.

Satisfyingly, Percy blushed.

"How have you found it, living here?"

"Oh, it's amazing. It is wonderful, sir. I am so very grateful to you. I've never been in a place that's so comfortable. I can't believe that you're allowing me to live here."

"Sir?" Lucius raised an eyebrow. "I think we are well enough acquainted now for first names?"

"I'm sorry. I forget." Percy wrung his hands in an agitated way.

"You have forgotten how close we have been? I am hurt."

"Oh, no. No. Not that. I actually remember that quite often."

Lucius stepped forward. He was nearly ready to put the poor boy out of his misery. Although, he wasn't a boy at all of course, Lucius wouldn't be here for a child. "Fondly or with disgust?"

Percy's open face looked directly into his and Lucius understood how the Sorting Hat had made such a blunder with its placing of this one. He gave a good impression of some kind of virtuous heroism, in spite of all his cleverness and ambition.

"Certainly not disgust."

Lucius tilted his head a little and moved his face down towards Percy, who responded with a tilt and stretch of his own neck. Before they kissed, though, Lucius swept away and marched across the room. He did not look back but he knew from Percy's attempt to control his breathing, that the young man was blinking and watching him, he knew the colour that would be rushing across Percy's skin.

"Have you heard anything from your family?" Lucius asked.

"No, s- Lucius. Nothing."

Lucius swept round and pinned Percy with his eyes. "Then you must forget them and join a more worthy family."

"Family?" Percy's feet shuffled him towards Lucius.

Lucius held his ground. "I know people, Percy Weasley. I have influence with them. They are the ones who can aid your career. They will see, as I do, what an exceptional young man you are."

"Am I?" Percy clearly wanted to believe it.

"Oh you are. You deserve to have wonderful things happen to you; you deserve the best. I will use everything in my power to give you the very best that there is."

"In everything?" Clever Percy had caught all of Lucius' meanings.

Lucius stroked soft ginger hair. He had always viewed the colour as an aberration before, the freakish badge of Blood Traitors. All of a sudden, as the candle-light glinted through its strands, red became his favourite shade for hair. He stroked the finger of his other hand down the sharp line of Percy's cheekbone. "Everything," he promised in a breathy whisper.

This time they kissed fully and for a long time. When, eventually, Percy pulled back for air, it took Lucius a moment to remember what he had been about. He inhaled deeply and asked, "Do you want to feel good, Percy?"

Percy nodded dumbly. He was clutching at the fabric over Lucius' hips, beautifully flushed, with dilated pupils and swollen, saliva-varnished lips.

"Trust me completely and I will make you feel wonderful, Percy."

Percy nodded.

"Do you trust me? Say it."

Percy's voice croaked: "I trust you."

"Will you allow me to do to you whatever I deem best?"

"I long for that."

Lucius was overcome by a rush of blood to his privates and caught himself biting into Percy's neck; Percy just moaned with pleasure so it was fine.

Lucius took deep breaths to control himself. It was essential that he remain in charge, that he did not get carried away. Percy was the one who needed to be washed adrift in pure sensation. After the ecstasy, he would belong utterly to Lucius and Lucius would have control of one of the most able wizards of the new generation.

He pulled Percy's work robes over his head and lead the entranced young man into Lucius' bedroom. He pushed him roughly onto the bed, but then stopped to carefully remove Percy's boots. Percy groaned through his teeth with obvious frustration.

"Lie still." Lucius made his tone as commanding as he was able. "Close your eyes," he added, because it unnerved him to be watched so ardently. With superhuman restraint, Lucius kissed his way over Percy's pale, freckled skin, removing every scrap of clothing as it hindered him. By the time he reached Percy's slightly gnarled toes, the young man was sweating and shaking and his erection strained against the air. He was obedient, though; he did not open his eyes or change position.

Lucius was surprised by his reaction to Percy's deformed feet. Whereas generally any divergence from perfection disgusted him, in this case he found himself filled with a warm affectionate pity for one whose growing years had been spent in hand-me-down shoes.

Lucius ran his flat tongue up the underside of Percy's penis and was rewarded with first a satisfied groan, and then a whimper of frustration when he moved away again. "Look at me," Lucius ordered. He wanted Percy to witness his adoration. He studied the body laid out before him. "You're beautiful," he whispered.

"So are you," Percy replied unexpectedly through the constriction of his arousal.

Lucius battled the softening of his limbs and the hardening of his cock. He slid his hands up the insides of Percy's legs and then around his amber-haloed balls. "Do you trust me?" Lucius asked again.

Percy nodded. He didn't look anxious. Lucius believed him.

"Has anyone ever touched you here before?" Lucius pushed a finger back, between Percy's firm buttocks, lifting a thin thigh onto his shoulder with the other hand. He found the tight rose of puckered skin.

"Never," Percy replied breathlessly.

"Good." Lucius realised that he had said that aloud and wondered whether that mattered. He rested the other leg on his other shoulder and gazed at the secret parts of Percy which were now exposed to him. He took his pot of unguent from the pocket of his robes and began to slowly rub it into Percy's virgin skin. His other hand stroked Percy's erection gently. He ignored the imperative of his own body's needs.

"I'll make you happy, Percy" Lucius murmured as he inserted one finger. "You will achieve your potential," he added as he loosened the resistant muscle. He eased in a second finger. "We will be great together." Percy's head was thrashing from side to side, his arms lifted to grasp Lucius, but he did not have enough control over his own body any more. "You are exceptional, Percy. You deserve this, you deserve to be ministered to and pampered." He had most of his hand inside the hot silkiness of Percy's body. He found the nub of nerve-endings which could render a man powerless with passion. "Love me, Percy. Be mine."

The flesh around Lucius' hand contracted and shot after shot of hot semen splashed over both of them. He pulled at Percy's prick until it was done.

Only then did Lucius escape his own clothing. Usually, he would have turned his lover over at this point, but he wanted to gaze at Percy's face for some reason. They embraced. Already Percy's exhausted breaths were evening out. Lucius was, however, determined to keep him awake. He lifted Percy's knees to his chest and rubbed a last palm-ful of the unguent along his aching shaft before submerging his cock inside Percy. He finally allowed his instincts to take over and thrust wild and fast until – all too quickly – he reached his own climax.

He used the last of his strength to flip them both over. His surrender to sleep had been hampered by worries that he would crush the boy. He was no longer a boy; they would not have been here like this if he had been. He held Percy to his chest and dozed.

When he woke, Percy was still lying on top of him. Their ribcages moved against each other as they breathed.

"How was that?" Lucius asked.

"Fantastic," Percy replied.

"Good." Lucius chuckled. "Shall we do it again sometime, then?"

"Lots of times."

"Yes, lots of times." And they did. "Forever." But they did not have that long.