Disclaimer: Nothing is mine aside from the AU plot.

A/N: This is where the story really starts going AU. I'm excited to not be writing missing scenes from Deathly Hallows anymore!

Thanks to all of you that responded to my question at the end of the last chapter, you were all a great help. Either would have fit here, but I couldn't decide, and this won by a landslide. I suppose this is the readers choice chapter? I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter 7 Black

" ...and now my bitter hands, cradle broken glass, of what was everything..."

Black by Pearl Jam

Lucius was taken aback, but not enough to keep him from reacting immediately. He had his wand in one hand and the creature clasped tightly by the scruff in the other, so he disapparated with it to a familiar place.

They apparated into a room he kept in a hotel at the heart of muggle London. It was rather small, containing only a double sized bed, two chairs and a small bathroom, but it was private and it was his. He had paid handsomely for the space and the privacy, and he knew even though it had been years since he had last been there, that the room still belonged to him.

The animal was momentarily disoriented by the side along apparation and change of scenery, giving Lucius the sudden advantage. He rolled it from atop him, and rose to his knees next to it, pointing his wand in the mongrel's ear.

"You may have fooled a great many, but you will never fool me. Change or I'll change you myself."

Lucius released it's fur and stood up, stepping back a few paces, keeping his wand trained directly on the mangy cur .

He would have felt a bit ridiculous had this turned out to be just an ordinary mutt, but he watched in absolute horror as the large black dog was surrounded in a bright yellow glow before taking the form of a tall man garbed in flowing red dress robes.

Lucius had stood there and witnessed the transformation, but still could not believe his eyes.

The man shook his head quickly as a dog would, never averting his gaze from Lucius or his wand. Reaching up casually to his face he scratched his bare chin and waited for Lucius to make the next move. But Lucius just stood there in shock.

Was I knocked unconscious when I hit the ground? Am I somehow dreaming this?

He would not believe it was real until he heard the man speak.

But people often spoke in dreams, didn't they?

Lucius was not sure how to proceed, so he simply blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"How is this possible? You're dead! I watched you die."

The man's lips curled into a half smile as he ran a hand through the front of his short black hair. Lucius watched in awe as those same lips moved to form words in response to his question.

"Apparently, the veil does not accept living, breathing beings and I was spat back out several hours later."

Lucius' mouth was gaping wide as he silently observed the other man's every move, transfixed.

"Might want to close that thing, you'll draw flies soon Malfoy."

Lucius clamped his mouth shut and grinned.

"Only you, Sirius Black could defy death." He laughed, shaking his head disbelievingly. "You've been alive—all this time. All this time and not a hint, not even a whisper."

"It's hard to get much news in Azkaban though isn't it ? Not that I'd be spreading this around. My life is much simpler as a corpse. Alive I'm still wanted you know."

"You've been with your godson this whole time. You've been with aurors and ministry workers. They all know, yet you're hiding?"

"We've had to keep up the facade though Malfoy, I was never cleared. No way yet to prove my innocence to the wizengamot, and they're the ones who count."

"But Wormtail is alive. He is all the proof you need."

Sirius laughed.

"Ah, but see the problem with that is dear Wormtail has failed to make a public appearance."

Lucius was still somewhat perplexed and not paying attention to much of what Sirius was saying, focused as he was on the monumental change in Black's appearance in the two years since he had last seen him.

"Merlin, Black, you look so good. Still so beautiful after all this time."

Sirius laughed again, a flash of white teeth showing behind his lips.

"I actually believe you a bit more this time than the night you freed me from Azkaban. I know I wasn't even close to pretty then." Sirius smoothed his robes and looked down at himself. "I'm still old and ragged, though slightly better dressed now."

"No, Sirius. You're wrong. You have never failed to take my breath away."

Sirius moved closer to Lucius, who gasped and took two steps back.

"What's wrong Lucius? I'm no ghost if that's what you're thinking." He stepped forward again and was almost nose to nose with Lucius. "Go on, touch me. Prove it to yourself."

Lucius tentatively reached out with the hand not holding his wand and lightly brushed his fingertips across Sirius' cheekbone then ran those same fingertips gently across Sirius' lips, letting them linger there for a moment.

"See? Flesh and blood Lucius. And you either still have your wand drawn, or you're extremely happy to see me."

Lucius hadn't even realized his wand was still pointed at Sirius and he lowered it.

"I still don't understand Black."

"You're not pleased that I'm here then I take it?"

"No, you misunderstand. This—you—I'm more than happy. I just don't understand how you stumbled into the afterlife and breezed right back out as though nothing had happened."

"It's a mystery mostly, even to me. It just wasn't my time I suppose." Sirius stepped even closer to Lucius, so close now Lucius could feel his warm breath on his face.

"Did you miss me Pavo?" Sirius breathed as he ghosted his lips across Lucius', closing them softly on his bottom lip before taking them away again.

"More than you know Sirius. I was lost. Had it not been for Draco I would have given up completely."

"I don't believe you Lucius."

"I—don't,"

"Make me believe it Lucius. Show me."

Lucius hesitated briefly and almost turned away but couldn't. He extended his arm and placed his hand at the back of Sirius' head pulling his face closer, crashing his lips down onto his own. Each man's mouths struggled do dominate the other; Sirius' tongue slipped inside Lucius' mouth, prodding at it gently as if urging it back to life. Seconds lapsed before Lucius reacted as though he had suddenly remembered what to do.

Sirius fumbled blindly for the ribbon that was keeping Lucius' hair tied back, tugged the knot once and let it flutter to the ground. One hand grasped the pale blond tresses letting the long strands slide through his fingers while the others worked their way down to Lucius' waist, pulling their bodies flush against each other. Lucius could feel the hardness of Sirius' erection through his robe as it pressed into his own. Suddenly, near panic, he broke the kiss and pulled away.

"This isn't a good idea Black. You've only just come back and—"

"I've been back for two years. I was never really gone." He reached out and lightly touched the discolored area on Lucius' jaw where Arthur had hit him earlier. "You feel—so good Lucius. So familiar. I need this, I need you. Please don't deny me."

"I can't get the idea of you being dead out of my mind Sirius, I'm sorry."

Sirius grabbed Lucius' hand and placed it over his heart.

"Feel that?" Sirius' heart thudded beneath Malfoy's fingers. "I'm alive Lucius. Alive! Not dead. Not some walking, talking corpse. I was never dead!"

Lucius pulled his hand away as he began to speak.

"I just need time to adjust to this. I can't just jump from mourning you to sleeping with you like," He snapped his fingers. "that."

Sirius backed away from Lucius and sat at the foot of the bed.

"Alright Lucius, that's fine. Take your time. Adjust. I'll wait."

Sirius gathered his robe from the bottom, lifting himself slightly he pulled it over his torso, up over his head and tossed it to the floor. The crisp white shirt Molly had forced him into that morning soon joined the robe.

"You think I'll adjust so quickly Sirius?"

"I'm just more comfortable this way Malfoy. No sense in sitting in a room with you all dressed up." he grunted, kicking his shoes halfway across either side of the room.

Lucius watched amused while Sirius leaned back and fluffed up two pillows, placing one behind the other then collapsed back on them to watch Lucius as he 'adjusted'.

Sirius was so playful and carefree. Here he was trying to seduce Lucius with absolutely no apparent concern whatsoever for the events that had taken place not an hour earlier. That was the thing that attracted Lucius to him from the start. His reckless abandon. It was what he wanted so desperately himself, just not to care.

Lucius couldn't simply stand there and watch this man, his Sirius, lying there, aching to be touched and not give in. He wanted to touch him, and to be touched by him. His body was more than willing, but his mind was screaming no no no no no. The body though soon overruled the mind, willing it to shut up as Lucius began removing every stich of clothing he had on.

Sirius raised an eyebrow as he too discarded his trousers.

"You're too easy Malfoy. I was beginning to enjoy your coy little game."

Lucius stood there staring at Sirius who had now laid back again and spread his legs invitingly. Sirius cocked his head to one side and wagged a finger at Lucius, beckoning him to the bed. Lucius responded quickly, pressing his knees into the mattress and crawling upwards until they were face to face.

Sirius slid his hand up to Lucius' neck and traced the fragile bones through his skin. When Sirius' finger left one spot, his lips took their place, mapping a fiery trail of kisses down Lucius' neck and along his collarbone.

His other hand massaged Lucius' chest, slipping down to his stomach and resting there. Sirius drew back slightly and looked down at Lucius' diminished frame.

"I see you've been on the Azkaban diet Pavo."

Lucius felt his face flush. He'd forgotten how thin and haggard he looked after his stay in Azkaban. He didn't want Sirius to look at him unclothed anymore, not when he looked like that. Lucius pushed him away until Sirius was lying flat on his back.

"I didn't mean anything by that Lucius. Don't—oh—sweet hea—oh"

Lucius had gotten to his side, leaned over Sirius' erection and without hesitation or any other touching, swallowed half his length. A curtain of silvery-blond silk hung between them, blocking Sirius' view, but he could feel moist heat enveloping and leaving him time and again. The intermingling of fingers and lips and tongue and slight graze of teeth, lick and suck was dizzying to Sirius. He had to watch. He reached down to Lucius' head, flipping the man's hair out of his way.

Finally seeing what Lucius was doing to him nearly drove him mad, but it still wasn't enough, he wanted more, so much more than Lucius was giving. He gingerly nudged Lucius' head downward as he raised his hips from the bed slightly, thrusting his prick to the back of Lucius' throat. He smiled as he watched Lucius try to take all of what he was giving him unsuccessfully and eased up a bit, releasing the back of Malfoy's head, but continuing to buck up into his mouth.

As Sirius assaulted his mouth, an angry thought entered Lucius' mind. He tried to ignore it because he wanted this and more of what Sirius had to offer, but it was relentless and would not leave him alone. His hand took up the rhythm his mouth had been keeping as his other hand snaked even lower, grazing Sirius' taut sac lightly before pressing one finger up painfully behind it. Sirius jerked back in pain while Lucius rolled away from him.

"Ah! Goddamnit Lucius, that fucking hurt!"

Their gray eyes locked as Lucius asked his question.

"Why did you attack me earlier, Sirius?"

Sirius froze for a moment and then sat up on the bed.

"Why did you have to speak and ruin this Lucius?"

"I haven't ruined anything Black, it's just a simple question that I would like to have an answer to before we go any further."

"There is no chance of this happening now, or ever, so I may as well tell you everything."

"I would love to hear whatever you're hiding."

"I'm not the one hiding anything Lucius. You are. You always have been."

"Pardon?"

Sirius scooted off of the bed and stood at the foot reaching down for his clothes.

"You wanted to know why I attacked you, didn't you?"

"That is what I asked."

"I attacked you because I had every intention of killing you right there in Molly's garden Malfoy. But when you brought me here I decided to use you the way you used me for over twenty years."

Lucius was off of the bed in one swift movement, standing just a few feet from Sirius.

"And you still intend to kill me then?

"Absolutely. You won't be going out with a bang now, and that is completely your own fault."

Sirius drew his wand, but Lucius, whose wand had never been far from his side was quicker.

"Put it down Black."

Sirius had no choice but to comply and tossed his wand onto the bed. Lucius grabbed it and dropped both of their wands on the carpet behind him, resting one heel on them.

"So—let me get this straight. You were going to murder me, but you decided to fuck me first, and then kill me? What is wrong with you Black, why would you want to kill me?"

"I know all about you Malfoy. Every lie you've ever told me has been brought to my attention."

"Lies? I've never lied to you Black. Not once."

"Don't pretend to be an innocent party Malfoy. You're up to your pretty little neck in Voldemort's affairs, and you enjoy it. I was blind before. Stupid and blind. But not anymore. I found out everything that you've omitted telling me over the years."

"What the hell are you talking about? You know everything there is to know about me."

Sirius plopped down in the chair nearest him to finish putting on his clothes.

"I do now. Tell me old man, why did you give the Weasley girl Tom Riddle's diary? By accident?"

"No, it was not an accident. I had no idea what that thing did. I had only hoped to anger her father when he found one of the dark artifacts he was always raiding homes for in his own daughter's possession. I thought it was just a blank bloody diary!"

"Then why did you seek to have Dumbledore removed as headmaster at the same time? You knew muggleborns would be more vulnerable to whoever had opened the chamber with him gone."

"Dumbledore was an old fool. I believed him to be incompetent and I did not want my son, who everyone assumed to be the one opening the chamber, to be harmed. And if I am not mistaken, I was correct in regard to Dumbledore."

"Don't speak ill of the dead Malfoy. And what about today? Explain that away with one of your pretty lies."

Lucius' anger had morphed into rage.

"You know my position—"

"Yes I do. And I never questioned you when I should have. That is where I went wrong. I was so infatuated with you that I never dreamed you were playing me for a fool."

Lucius raised a blond eyebrow and blinked several times while trying to sort out what Sirius had just said.

"Your death and subsequent resurrection have completely addled your brain Sirius. Why are you saying these things to me? I've done nothing but try to protect you and help you protect those you love yet you always accuse me of the most horrible things. I don't know why I put up with it, and even worse still I always come back for more of your abuse. Do you really believe me to be that awful a man?"

Sirius closed his eyes and bowed his head before whispering.

"Yes Lucius, I do. I have no evidence to the contrary. Everything you did was because you lusted after me, and not because you have a good heart. Everything I ever felt for you was based on one lie after another."

Lucius wanted to cross over to him and shake him, make him see that he was not the monster he now thought him to be.

"I tried to warn the Weasley's today. I tried to warn Harry. I had no idea—about you."

Sirius' voice softened when he spoke again.

"I know you did. I saw your patronus. No one trusted it because no one recognized it. Hell, I always knew your patronus to be a fox. I wouldn't have known if I hadn't seen it the night you freed me from Azkaban."

He lifted his eyes to look at Lucius. "I never did ask you, but out of pure morbid curiosity, why did your patronus change anyway?"

"I don't know." Lucius lied. He would never tell him the reason for the change now. "I've never told anyone about it. I was just as shocked that night as you were."

"From a fox to a lion. And it's still the lion. I know of another whose patronus changed recently. It reflected what was in her heart. Who do we know that resembles a lion? Ah, carrying a torch for the minister, Malfoy?"

Lucius wanted to scream. It's a lion now because you are a Gryffindor, idiot! But he didn't speak. He couldn't. He just collapsed back onto the bed. Sirius didn't know about the minister. How could he? Everything was kept a secret. He was about to give Sirius more fuel to fire his hatred.

"Scrimgeour is dead Sirius."

"I figured that Malfoy. Your lion told us as much."

"A new minister has been appointed, by the dark lord."

Sirius jumped up, annoyed and stood in front of the door on the other side of the room.

"Why do you always feel the need to walk me through things sentence by sentence as though I'm a baby? I can understand when you speak more than six words to me."

Lucius didn't answer him, he was too disgusted and he felt completely betrayed. Instead he bent to retrieve his clothes and pulled his trousers up and belted them. Lucius had an overwhelming desire to tell Sirius everything while they were still on speaking terms and he wanted at least to be partially clothed when he said what he had to. But he made a conscious decision not to reveal any of his master's future plans.

That was all he had when he stepped into the Weasley garden that afternoon, and even with the stunning reappearance of the man he had loved for over half his life, those plans were all he would leave the hotel with that night. Sirius may have survived his fall into the veil, but one does not threaten a Malfoy the way he had and live to tell the tale.

He had been dead in Lucius' mind for years now anyway.

A/N: I was tickled writing Sirius back in. I've missed him! Don't worry, you'll be seeing him again..this scene will continue with chapter 9. Next chapter is what happens after the mini battles that went on earlier.

I'm also writing a Bellatrix/Voldemort fic called "Wicked Game" if there are any other Bellamort shippers out there that want to take a look.

Please don't forget to review!