A/N: Bit of a shift here. Hope it's not too jarring. ;-) Harry's had a long day at the office.

oOoOo

Lucius was lounging in front of the fire, his customary drink in hand when one of the house elves appeared. It announced in its piping voice that there was a visitor asking to see him. A wicked smile crept onto Lucius' lips. Of course there was. The only problem with having this particular visitor in the house was the fact that both Narcissa and Draco were at home.

It was always possible that either of them would stroll into his study unannounced; he would have to take control of the situation from the start. That meant he needed to divert whatever Potter had planned into a more deserted part of the expansive house.

In fact, as he rose and set his glass aside, he thought he knew the perfect setting. Gesturing the little creature on ahead of him, Lucius strolled confidently through his domain. On the way, he took the opportunity to appreciate his surroundings. Let Potter stew for a few moments, Lucius was in no rush. He was no longer consciously aware of the changes that had come over him in the past few months but every part of his bearing was prouder and more self-assured. At last he had returned to the Lucius of old - though without being required to simper at the feet of his demented master.

Eventually he and the house elf arrived at the staircase leading down to the entry hall. There, at the foot of the stairs, stood the young man that Malfoy had developed such an unlikely connection with.

A slight smile came unbidden to his lips and it was answered almost instantly by a gleam in the auror's eyes. How had that happened, Lucius wondered. He didn't have time to ponder it long because Harry took an immediate a step toward him. Holding up a hand, Lucius halted the boy's progress and indicated without speaking that Potter should follow.

He led out the door and down a well-worn path through the gardens. The night was warm and lit only by the dim glow of a half moon. The lack of light didn't bother him much for Lucius could have led the way blindfolded.

One of the features of the estate was the presence of several outbuildings – among them a guest cottage. Long ago Lucius had claimed that as a sort of retreat from the stresses of family life. Now it would provide the perfect locale for whatever was going to happen between the two men.

They were caught at an impasse with only two plausible ways forward: either they would continue this game of one-upsmanship until nothing else could be done or things would change. Perhaps Potter was here to give him an ultimatum. It was well within his power to do so. Lucius wasn't quite sure what he'd prefer but he would have to see what happened in the next few minutes.

Stepping across the cottage's threshold, he moved with long practiced habit toward the sitting room fireplace. The elves made sure it was always kept ready for use just in case their master's whim drew him down from the manor to spend time there.

With the fire successfully lit, Lucius stood up but he didn't manage to turn around before Harry's strong arms encircled his chest. Malfoy tensed, expecting to be shoved against the nearest solid object – most likely the mantle or the wall next to it – but that didn't happen.

Instead, Potter's body was a steady warmth against his back and the auror nestled his face against the older man's shoulder. Lucius was taken aback. He'd expected sexual tension between them, not this sort of intimacy. There was a dulling of the jagged lines of passion that had separated them up until now and he found himself setting his palms atop Harry's arms.

Silence and closeness reigned for a time until the older wizard broke it. "Why are you here, Potter?"

"I should have thought that was obvious." There was a measured amusement in the young man's tone but also a gentleness that Lucius hadn't experienced from him thus far.

"I'm afraid it isn't, so you'll just have to enlighten me."

"I want to be with you, of course." A simple and touching statement but it didn't settle Lucius' curiosity.

"Why?"

A momentary silence before Harry murmured, "Insanity."

Lucius couldn't hold back a snort. "I'll buy that."

"Good. Maybe if I sell it to you, I won't be afflicted anymore."

Lucius smiled. He found himself enjoying this novel change of pace. "What is your asking price then?"

"A kiss."

That gave Lucius a definite pause and he turned in the younger man's embrace to search Harry's eyes seriously. "Just a kiss?"

A twitch of the lip signaled Harry's amusement. "For now."

"I think I could afford that then."

"I'm positive that you could." Harry leaned in and there was a moment's hesitation before their lips touched. In that instant there was a simple exchange of breath, that life-giving essence, and then Lucius pulled the young man to him and took possession of Harry's mouth.

For his part, Potter responded with a sort of tender ferocity. Whatever had changed his attitude toward the older wizard had not diminished his fire. Lucius was glad of that. He didn't want a meek, subservient lover. Even if he asserted dominance over the young man, he wanted there to be some defiance returned, some sense that he was conquering what in other instances might be unassailable.

Long moments later, Harry broke the kiss and watched him, eyes bright with passion. It was clear that Potter was feeling uncertain about what course to take next but he was also obviously open to the experience.

Reaching down, Lucius claimed the young auror's hand and guided him over to the sofa. There he had to consider positioning for a few seconds. Habit dictated that he should claim a position on top of the lad but in light of Harry's inexperience, Lucius decided to do the opposite. Once he'd made that determination, Lucius sat and pulled Harry along with him, lying back so that he could settle the young auror atop him. The situation made him feel more vulnerable but it also felt nice in its own way. On some plane he trusted Potter and he was curious to see what the boy would do.

After shifting a little, Harry kissed him once more and the older wizard abandoned himself to the pleasure of it. His hands roamed the contours of the auror's frame, learning more of the hills and valleys that made up the strong young physique. When his hand strayed down between Harry's buttocks, he was rewarded with a low growl. Intrigued at what else the boy might do, Lucius slipped his fingers under the waist of Harry's trousers so that he could probe into Harry's cleft. When his fingertips brushed Harry's opening, the young man's hips twitched against him and Harry broke the kiss with a gasp.

"Do you like that?" A grin spread on the older wizard's lips. It felt wicked, corrupting the boy like this, although he had to wonder if it was an actual corruption or simply an awakening.

"Fuck, yes!"

"Language, Potter," he chided but of course he wasn't serious. The obscenity sounded just perfect from Harry's lips and it sent the blood throbbing to the elder wizard's groin. He would have to make Harry talk dirty to him more often.

"What's the matter, Malfoy?" Harry's eyes held a challenge along with lust. "Am I harming your virgin ears?"

Lucius had to laugh out loud. Little did the boy know it would take more than simple obscenity to offend his proprieties.

"If I were to say 'yes,' would that mean you'd harm them a little more?" His voice was as silky as his touch as he slid his hand lower. His fingers found the spot he knew would drive Harry crazy and started making tight little circles over it.

"Ahhh…fuck!" Harry flung his head back, providing an opening for Lucius to kiss and lick at the younger man's throat. The auror rolled his hips more tightly against Lucius' body and the older wizard became concerned that Harry would spend himself already. Not wanting that to happen this time, he stopped the movement of his fingers and withdrew his hand from the auror's trousers.

Harry gave a whimpering growl and Lucius pulled back and looked into the boy's lust-clouded eyes. "This time, no coming before we've had our fun, Potter. You'll have to control yourself."

The auror looked like he was about to say something but then he seemed to think better of it. He simply nodded.

"Good boy. Now, would you be so kind as to get our clothing off? I don't feel very inclined to move and you have the wand." He watched Harry's eyes for a mere moment before asking, "You know the spell?"

The look Harry gave him made Lucius want to laugh. It managed to show reproof that the other man would ask such a question while being utterly adorable at the same time. "Of course!"

It was only a matter of seconds before their garments were gone and Lucius enjoyed the very pleasing warmth of Harry's skin pressing against his own. Wrapping his arms back around the young man, he nuzzled against Harry's neck and murmured, "Don't forget to summon lube. We'll need it."

For the first time Harry paused and seemed to be having second thoughts. Lucius pulled back again and regarded him closely. "Harry?"

The gentle inquisitiveness infused in his name as the elder wizard spoke it made Harry defensive. "Lucius, are you sure about this?"

"Quite sure. Aren't you?"

"I…" he seemed lost as the word trailed off and no more came. Lucius was moved and he brought his hand up to stroke behind the boy's ear. "I don't know what to do." The admission was a tortured whisper and it brought a soft chuckle from the depths of the older man's chest.

"Now I know you're not a virgin." Soft reproof laced Lucius' tone.

"No, but…"

"Then you know what to do. Granted, I have different equipment than your girlfriend but the premise is the same. You'll just have to use lube."

He saw that indecision still lingered and traced the shell of the auror's ear with his thumb. "Don't worry, I'll help you."

Harry's eyes fluttered almost closed. Lucius figured his seductive fingers were doing just what he'd intended – battering down any remainder of the young man's resistance. Harry's lips opened a little as his breathing deepened and Lucius took that opportunity to seize the boy's lips in a kiss once more. Slowly he probed his tongue into Harry's mouth and took a long draught of that sweet warmth.

Several minutes later, when the kiss ended, Lucius opened his eyes and found Harry looking back at him with a sort of dazed expression. "Potter, would you please take me before my bollocks explode?" His need wasn't quite that great yet but if the foreplay went on very much longer it was going to get painful. Lucius Malfoy wasn't normally the sort of man who kept his pleasure waiting for an extended period of time.

Harry nodded and seemed to gather his wits with his breath. "What sort of lubrication do I need?"

"In the bathroom, top drawer at the back. There is a bottle that will suit our needs." At the young man's inquisitive look, which clearly wondered why Lucius would have a bottle of lube there, Lucius brought his hand down to give Harry's erection a demonstrative stroke. "A man has his needs, Harry. Don't worry, I haven't used it on any of the other young fellows that happened to stray into my lair."

He chuckled at his own words and at the little groan that greeted the touch of his hand.

"Ahh…all right," Harry gasped out as his cock twitched. "I'll…be right back."

Lucius gave him another brief kiss and then nodded, "Don't be long."

The boy raised up to a standing position and walked into the other room, causing Lucius to shiver softly at the lost warmth. The auror's body was like a blast furnace and now that he'd gone, Lucius felt very cold.

Repositioning into the leather beneath him, the older wizard got more comfortable and readied himself for Harry's return. It had been a while since Lucius had taken a male lover – or rather that he'd been taken by a male lover – so a bit of preparation would inevitably be necessary. He was still pondering this when Harry returned a few minutes later.

"Is this what I was looking for?" The young man held up a bottle.

"Yes, that's the one."

"Good," Harry resumed his former position, though this time Lucius spread his legs so that the auror could settle between them. "What's the next step?"

"Pool a bit of it in your palm and stroke it around my arsehole. It's been quite a while since I've done this," Lucius' eyes dropped to appraise Harry's crotch, "and you're not exactly a little fellow."

The pleased blush that infused Harry's cheeks was gratifying but the young man didn't comment. He just did as Lucius instructed. The oil dripped out onto Harry's fingers, which he then brought to the older wizard's opening.

It was Malfoy's turn to groan as Harry's fingers rubbed at first tentatively and then with more enthusiasm around his anus. Lucius' spine tingled at the sensation and he wanted more. Much more.

"Fingers, Potter…ah. Push in…two fingers." He gasped a soft breath as he felt Harry comply. "Slowly now…"

It had to be beginner's luck but as Harry slid the slick digits into Malfoy's opening, they pressed over just the right spot. Lucius' head dropped back, his toes curled and his whole body shuddered. If he'd been a younger man he would have emptied his balls right then and there.

As it was, it was a near thing. Clenching his jaw, he lowered his chin so that he could observe the young man through half-closed eyes.

Harry appeared almost as flushed as Lucius felt and his expression held a certain intensity. The older wizard realized that the boy was memorizing his responses and that scrutiny seemed to make the sensations even stronger. He only let Harry continue for another minute before he groped for the auror's wrist.

"Take me, Harry! Now!" The whisper was more desperate than Lucius would have liked but then he was quite desperate at that point.

A little grin quirked Potter's lips as he slid his fingers free and added some of the lube to his erection. He changed his position to enter the elder wizard and Lucius adjusted too. He felt a nudge again at his sensitive opening and then an incredible sense of stretching as Harry slowly filled him.

Even though it had been quite some time since Lucius had bottomed, it didn't take much effort for Harry to press balls deep into him. Once fully inside, Harry stopped and looked down into Lucius' stormy eyes. The auror's breathing was shallow and quickened but he still managed to murmur, "You're amazing."

"As are you…my boy." Malfoy's own breath came short. This was beyond amazing. Through all of his confinement and the turmoil of the past several years, he'd allowed himself to forget the joys of being with another man. Duty to his family had been too pressing at the time. Now finally he was free again.

Harry began to move his hips, picking up a slow rhythm and Malfoy reached up to pull the young man close. Lucius took the opportunity to kiss Harry deeply and slid his hands over the boy's sweaty back. His hand lit on Harry's buttock, which he gave a squeeze and a resounding smack. Potter grunted and drove hard into the man beneath him.

Breaking the kiss, Lucius arched his back and pushed his hips wildly up to meet the thrusts. "Ah! Harry!"

A deep groan started in his chest and he grasped his cock, finally stroking himself to his climax. The groan became a cry as his cum spurted between their bodies. After that, all Lucius could do was lie limp and sated as Harry had his way with him. Dimly, he felt the young man fill him with his seed and wrapped Harry loosely in his arms when the auror at last came to a rest.

Silence lingered for a long while and Lucius floated in a hazy contentment. Sex was always good but this sex had been outstanding.

"Lucius…" the young auror's voice broke into the elder wizard's doze.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Soft lips grazed Malfoy's ear and he chuckled low in his throat. He didn't open his eyes. "I don't know why you're thanking me, Potter, but you're quite welcome."

There was no reply to the prompt but a few moments later Harry spoke again. His voice was a low rumble near Lucius' ear. "Lucius…what now?"

Opening his eyes to slits, he peered over at the boy. "What do you mean? I, for one, don't plan on moving for a good long while."

"No, I mean," Harry seemed to search for the right words, "now that we've…" he gestured vaguely to their entwined bodies and Lucius smirked, "how are we moving on from here?"

The elder wizard opened his eyes the rest of the way to regard Harry a little more intently. "How do you wish to 'move on?'"

Harry frowned. "I don't know." There was a touch of unhappiness lurking in the young man's voice. Intriguing.

"Potter. Harry. What do you want from me?"

This had all started out as a game. It had been something to pass the time and to pull Lucius out of the funk that he had fallen into. Now he was surprised to realize that he felt a genuine fondness for the young auror. With that said, there were still limits. He would not throw away his family like some romantic old fool to gallivant off with The Boy Who Lived.

Would Potter expect such a thing from him? Lucius hadn't planned quite that far in advance. A shag – or even two or three or four – was one thing but a committed relationship was quite another, and quite inconceivable.

"I don't want this to end."

The admission seemed as shocking to Harry as it was to Lucius.

"Does it have to end?"

The auror looked at him for a minute or so without speaking. "Mustn't it? Lucius…what are we doing?" Harry propped his chin on his hand. "You're married. I'm about to be."

"I don't see how that matters, Potter, unless you plan to inform the women in our lives" Lucius' tone and expression made it clear that he would not allow such a thing to happen.

"Not telling them would be dishonest."

"Only if they ask and you lie. Narcissa knows better than to do that. Would Miss Weasley ask you if you're sleeping with me?"

"Well…no." Unless she saw something or heard rumors, Ginny would remain in blissful ignorance. Both men knew that. "But I'd feel guilty."

"Then you must make a choice, Harry. You either wish to end it or you don't."

Lucius hoped that the boy wouldn't choose to end it so soon after it had begun but even if he did, there were ways that Malfoy might continue things. He'd proven quite adept at seducing Potter already.

"You don't have a preference?"

"Don't be daft. Of course I do. However, I don't have a problem with keeping this from my spouse. That is an issue for you to deal with, not me."

Lucius trailed his fingers idly down the young man's back as he spoke and Harry shivered.

"Lucius, what would you do if you found out that Narcissa was having an affair?"

The elder wizard shrugged. "She is free to do as she wishes." He knew that part of him would be raving jealous but if an affair made her happy, he'd tolerate it. Cissa was the best thing that had ever happened to him and he was well aware that he owed her his life.

"And she feels the same way?"

"Potter, there are certain things a husband and his wife shouldn't discuss. You may both know about it but for the sake of peace you pretend you don't."

"And the two of you pretend often?"

"We haven't for a while now…until you came along."

This clearly gave Harry food for thought and Lucius let him ponder it for a while before interrupting. "Harry, you came here tonight for a reason. I know that it wasn't just because of what I did this afternoon or you would have acted quite differently. You must have done a lot of thinking before coming here. Am I right?"

Harry nodded but remained silent. Lucius decided that was his cue to press on. "I must assume from what you've just said and from your reactions during our …" the elder wizard's lip twitched in amusement, "merger that you were not disappointed by the sex?"

Even Harry couldn't hold back a laugh when Malfoy phrased it that way. "No, I definitely wasn't."

"And you wish to continue."

"I've already told you I do. And I've already told you why I shouldn't."

"Ah, but there is often a great divide between what one should do and what one does. Sometimes even between what one does and what will be best for them in the end."

"How can I know what will be best for me in the end?"

"You can't. You can only live and hope that your decisions bring you to the proper conclusion."

"That's a fat lot of help, Lucius." Harry's expression was half-frustrated, half-resigned to the idea that he'd have to figure things out on his own.

"I'll tell you what, Harry. Take the weekend to mull things over. Spend time with your girl and decide what you want to do. Meet me for lunch on Monday and give me the news either way. You can't say that isn't a fair offer."

That was true; Harry couldn't say it wasn't fair. However, it was also true that Harry wasn't naïve enough to believe everything was as simple as Lucius made it sound. As with every deal the former dark wizard made, there would be strings attached. If Harry did decide to break things off with Lucius, he had better have some plan to defend himself against Malfoy's advances. Lucius wouldn't just give up without a fight; that was all too obvious.

"I suppose you have a place in mind for our lunch as well?"

Of course he did. "What about that little bistro next to Flourish and Blott's? Less of your Ministry chums to worry about there and I can still use the floo."

And if things went well, there was a place nearby that he could take Potter for an afternoon tumble before the young auror had to return to work. A little smile flickered across his lips at that thought. Harry must have detected it because he gave Lucius a suspicious look.

"You won't pressure me if I make a decision that you don't like?"

"Ah, I'm afraid you're putting words in my mouth now, Harry."

"Lucius…"

The tone with which Potter spoke his name was full of reproach. That would never do. Before Harry could say anything else, Lucius pulled him into a kiss that lasted long enough to take the young man's breath away. Malfoy was breathless too, however, so he had to draw in a deep gulp of air.

"Potter, I'm an old man who has just been shagged – very vigorously, I might add – by his son's former classmate. You'll forgive me if I'd rather doze for a bit than argue over something that may or may not be relevant on Monday. If you'll be so kind as to let me rest, I will certainly make it worth your while before you go."

That might not have been quite what Harry wanted to hear but he gave in with relatively good grace. "Fine…" Lucius smiled to himself as Harry snuggled closer and closed his eyes, "but this isn't over."

Malfoy chuckled. "That's what you think." If there was one thing that Lucius would always love, it was getting his own way.