Author: enchanted nightingale

Beta Reader: pussycatadamah

Timeline: Book 5

Pairs: Harry/Lucius

Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

Chapter 42 - As Usual

Mortification did not quite cover how Harry felt. In the aftermath of the Locket's destruction, he had been relieved and happy and that bit hurt from Lucius' doubts, hence the spontaneous kissing, disregarding the where they were and who was with them. And it had been a great kiss too, the teen thought, recalling how he felt encompassed in Lucius' arms, held so close to the man's body and claimed so thoroughly just by a single kiss. He had been numb to his surroundings, focusing only on the blond wizard and nothing else. Some part of him had sensed that Lucius had needed physical reassurance more than the words and hence the kiss. What was perhaps a bit reassuring was that Lucius had momentarily did not seem to care about who saw them, even if that one was Albus Dumbledore himself. Or perhaps he had been too shaken by the false images to care about pretences. Whatever the reason was, Lucius had been all over him and it had felt amazing. Until Reality caught up with them.

Neville was there, tending to the plant he kept by his bed side, when the green eyed teen came back and he frowned at the look on his friend's face.

"What happened?" he asked.

Harry shook his head and climbed onto his bed, "I'm never getting out of this room. Ever," he said before drawing the curtains closed.

Neville blinked at the melodramatic display, more amused than worried.

Harry drew the curtains back a bit. He gave a cursory glance around the dorm. "Are we alone?"

"Yes," the Longbottom heir replied. "Ron is out with Dean and Seamus. They were saying about playing a prank on Slytherin's. " Here Neville gave a bit of a wicked grin."I may have alerted Draco to that fact after the stipulation that he would leave Dean and Seamus relatively unscathed from payback. I don't want to see them permanently scarred; we do share a dorm you know."

Harry chuckled, amused by Neville's humour and scheming. "You know, I may have been a bad influence on you. All that plotting and Machiavellian schemes." He tutted, feigning disapproval but his grinning face spoke volumes.

"Well, I'm fine with that. Do you want to talk or are you just fine hiding away. What happened anyway? The way Snape stormed the class looking for you..." Neville shuddered. "I think a few people actually screamed in fear."

Harry snorted. "Well, he was not angry at me."

"That's always a good sign."

Harry sat on his mattress and made himself more comfortable. Neville joined him after throwing a locking charm at the door just to be certain no one would come in without them noticing.

"I was needed for a task," Harry explained.

"Dangerous one?"

"Of course," the green eyed teen muttered. He then explained to Neville why he was whisked off to Grimmauld Place, London. He glossed over the explanation about what Horcruxes were, just that those items had to be destroyed and that Lucius and Snape were teamed up with Sirius, Remus and Bill to do that. "Only they also decided to include the Headmaster too," Harry added.

Neville cocked his head to the right. "All those people gathered together in one location?" he asked. Amusement sparked in his eyes. Any other day and Harry would have been equally if not more amused by the unlikely gathering of people who had a bone to pick with each other.

Harry nodded. "And no spells were exchanged."

"Okay, so I'm guessing those items need a lot of power to be destroyed, so many powerful wizards gathered..."

Harry shook his head. "Nope, no power, just the right tools. Though, getting past Voldemort's protections is the biggest hurdle."

"So what made you want to crawl in bed and hide?" Neville asked.

Harry groaned with embarrassment and reluctantly explained the reason. Neville was laughing by the end of it, amusement winning over the mortification of being caught snogging your boyfriend by your teacher.

"It's not even close to amusing," the green eyed Gryffindor complained but he was smiling now.

"Trust me, it is, Neville said. Then he sobered up. "You think Professor Dumbledore's going to cause trouble for you?"

Harry shrugged. "I have no idea. He and Lucius, they're political adversaries."

Neville nodded, he knew that much.

"Lucius... he's not a saint, I know this much all too well. Lucius knows that. The whole wide world knows that. He opposed Voldemort because of me and because he had nothing more to gain following a mad man. He's so... So... Such a Malfoy," Harry finished. "And I weirdly enough love that fact."

"At least you admit it's weird," Neville told him, voice light.

He was not judging him, Harry quickly realised. He was not blaming him either. Neville was just here, willing to listen and support, he was here to be his friend. It still touched the green eyed Gryffindor this reminder, that there were people that cared about him being happy. People like Sirius and Remus, like Bill and Lucius, now Neville and even, he dared say, Snape. Harry reacted to the teasing comment the Longbottom heir made by playfully smacking him with a pillow. Neville laughed and retaliated briefly, until Harry took the pillow and held it, mirth giving way to seriousness.

"But you get what I'm trying to say, right?" The green eyed wizard asked.

The other Gryffindor nodded. "Yes, I am," Neville replied soberly to show how serious he was.

"Any advice for me?" Harry asked.

"Don't start blushing around the Headmaster and don't do anything. I bet Malfoy has already thought up a plan to get you out of a mess if your relationship came to light," Neville commented calmly.

Harry smiled. "I really needed to hear that, you know?"

"That's what friends are for," Neville replied.

Hermione tapped her quill against her lips, the feather tickling her to stop doing that. She had an odd look on her face as she caught the headmaster giving a look at Harry, shaking his head and going back to his conversation with Professor Flitwick. She did not pay this phenomenon any mind then, but when this became a habit for the next two meals, she began to get suspicious. Especially when she noticed how uncomfortable Harry was and how amused Neville seemed. Something had taken place; no doubt about it and the two wizards were keeping her in the dark. Hermione felt a bit slighted then. She had been near inseparable with Harry since first year, or at least she wanted to think so. She, Harry and Ron had been best friends until Ron decided to put his insecurities in the way of the friendship the year before. Yet Harry had not been alone. Bill Weasley was even closer to him than Ron and Neville Longbottom, too. She recalled the discussion she had had with the shy Gryffindor and his advice that she should not snoop around. The compulsion to do so was making her itch with restlessness.

Still, she tried not to pry, she really did. Hermione knew that she was missing several pieces of information, information that would not be forthcoming even if she tried asking her green eyed honestly had not been looking, much. But she started noticing things. Like how Harry wore expensive robes, too expensive in fact; the quality Draco Malfoy and other Slytherin's were known to wear. She did not doubt Sirius could have bought the garments (and heavens knew that Harry deserved having new clothes of the finest quality), but she somehow had trouble picturing Sirius buying Harry 'poncy' clothes. The dog Animagus gave her the feeling of not being too fond of all things pureblood last time she met him during the summer months. Remus Lupin, she could not picture him buying Harry such expensive outfits and not put any thought to his own appearance. Bill Weasley... Well, she reckoned that the red head could have bought Harry an item of clothing or two, but an entire new wardrobe? And somehow she could not picture her green eyed friend splurging on clothes even if he had money. Harry really did not know how to spend money on himself yet he was generous to the people he liked. So it had to be someone else. Perhaps the mystery boyfriend? If so, that meant that that person had money to spare because while not a girly girl, she had ears and she heard Lavender too many times mentioning various renowned tailors in the wizarding world and Dominic Ratazzi was one such brand name.

Another thing she noticed was Harry's spell casting, which had undoubtedly improved rapidly the year before and now it was simply impeccable. From the way he held his wand to the power behind the spells not to mention the vast repertoire of traditional wearing spells, meant that Harry had been coached in all this relative to the magical community. Hermione had not known the spell to get rid of soot from her robes, how to keep her meal warm without drying the food or worse blowing the contents up. She certainly had not read on charms that kept clothes ironed or got rid of blotches of ink from her papers, not until her second year and after she had caught a few Ravenclaw's doing it and asked them about this. She had tried showing Harry (Ron had not been interested although he knew those things) but the teen had not been interested in learning those things and she had stopped trying to get him involved. Now though he could do those things verbally and sometimes she caught him not using his wand at all. She also noticed how easier spells came to him in class, all the professors had remarked on how he now got spells on the first try. He had been sheepish too when he got their attention but also had a look like he had been thinking of something or maybe someone when he got complimented. It was not a great leap to think that whoever helped Harry could very well be the mysterious boyfriend.

The third big observation she made was the change of attitude towards Harry from certain Slytherin's and Draco Malfoy first. They were not exactly best mates but there was camaraderie, like when one was sharing a secret. The same could be said about Blaise Zabini. The young wizards were rather close, as seen best during Potions.

Another thing she had noticed was how... cordial Snape was being towards Harry. He had not changed his attitude towards the rest of the school but Neville and Harry; they did not get the brunt of the man's vitriol. It was like the two Gryffindor's were under an umbrella of protection, much like the Potion Master's Slytherin's. The inspiration hit her then, during dinner. Harry's love interest had to be Slytherin or at the very least connected to that house. The one thing that she was absolutely certain was that Harry had to be dating a pureblood and one coming from an old house. It would not be hard to deduce who it could be. There are only so many people that Harry could possibly know enough to date. Her problem is that Harry has met plenty of the younger generation as they share classes but through the Quidditch teams and his apparent company during summer he could have met more people. And from that group there are not many who like Draco Malfoy enough to justify the blond prat being so friendly with Harry. It had to be someone well liked by the Malfoy and the Zabini heir, she deduced. If she really set her mind onto it, she knew she could find out easily the identity of Harry's boyfriend, but for once her heart stopped her mind. She had promised Neville and in a way Harry that she would not pry. She would try and do that then and at the same time ignore the directions her overactive mind wanted to travel. Her curiosity was not worth losing Harry's or even Neville's friendship. And whatever happened she swore to herself that she would smile and support her green eyed friend even if she did not agree. Now she only hoped to keep up the promise to herself and not mess this up. She had already snooped enough.

Never before a meeting between the two of them was this awkward. And there had been plenty of awkward meetings between them over the years, Albus mused. But never before had he caught Lucius kissing anyone, much less young Harry. The blond wizard looked formidable in that way most Slytherin's that Albus was aquatinted with could be. He was dressed to fit his station and the look on his face could have frightened lesser men.

"Lucius," the Headmaster greeted.

The pureblood scowled. "Dumbledore," he returned.

"There's really no need for such hostility. Please, take a seat."

Lucius complied, not peeling his gloves off or letting his guard down. "I'm here to discuss the events that took place a few days ago."

"You kissed young Harry."

"That's Mister Potter to you Dumbledore," Lucius scowled.

"I was not going to judge you," Albus commented.

"I would not care even if you did judge me, I don't really care for your opinion," the blond wizard responded. "I just came by to make sure that you will keep your mouth shut about what you saw."

"I was not about to say anything to anyone. Severus and Sirius were quite adamant even though Mister Black was a bit petulant that his godson's significant other is you."

Lucius glared. "Dumbledore..."

"It's just that it is a bit odd, don't you think? And it's not just the age difference."

"What else is there?" the younger wizard asked. "What he and I have is nobody's business but our own. The fact that you know is bad enough, old man. Just keep out of it. What happens in my relationship is not a problem or responsibility, not something you need to influence or fix."

"Harry is my student Lucius."

"A fact that can easily change. There are other magical schools and Harry, after that debacle with the Triwizard Tournament last year he is an adult fully capable of making his own decisions."

Albus was quiet for a while as he slowly realised at what Lucius had been hinting. "He really was... The age line... The other Headmasters and the Ministry declared that only adults should compete and practically declared him an adult. And you've known, as has Harry." He sighed. "You were helping Harry last year too. You even got permission from the Department of Mysteries for him to try Enchanting."

"Everything for him to survive," Lucius replied. "Did you even try to get him out of the Tournament or were you just content to let things be just to catch the one responsible."

"Do you think so little of me?"

Lucius regarded him through cold eyes. "You are a strategist Dumbledore; I would expect nothing less from you. And your actions do speak louder than words. You did leave him with those animals for ten years."

"You mean Petunia," the aged wizard sighed, showing his years. "It was..."

"Don't bother with excuses," the grey eyed wizard cut him off. "Intentions mean little when faced with the results of your decisions. Harry is better off with me, at my side, with my attentions and my care. Don't interfere. I'm not asking you, I'm telling you," he said as he stood. "Don't bother Harry, don't ask questions and don't try to ruin us. You won't succeed and you know it."

"Harry deserves to be happy," Dumbledore told the blond wizard.

"And he is with me," Lucius replied. "And in much less danger than he used to be. What have you done for Harry's happiness and safety, Headmaster? I managed to destroy his body in less than a year when I put my mind to it. You had ten years to destroy him completely and failed."

"There was a prophecy Lucius..."

"I make my own fate old man," were the blond man's parting words as he left the Headmaster's office.

He was practically fuming when he left the office intending to go meet Severus. He needed to vent, needed for someone to understand his frustration in dealing with the old man. He had not even given Dumbledore enough space to spew whatever story and reasons he wanted. He had ploughed on, wanting not to lose control of the situation. He knew that if he let the old man, Dumbledore would try and drive him and Harry apart in a misguided attempt to protect the teen. It was like he could not understand that the green eyed wizard could be mature enough and have his own opinions and control of his own life. He nearly barrelled into someone and reflexively reached out to steady them when he saw red trimmed robes and green eyes staring back at him.

"Lucius!" the Boy-Who-Lived gasped lowly in surprise.

"Harry," he said in a breathy voice.

Then the teen gave him a cheeky smile and pulled him towards the nearest closed door. Lucius could only watch as the teen poked his head in the classroom first and then pulled the taller blond inside and quickly shut the door.

"Lock it," he asked of Lucius and the older wizard easily complied. Moments later his arms were full of Harry, the teen hugging him close. His mouth soon reached for his, lips messing together gently at first and more urgently as he kept on and Lucius nudged back just as eagerly and needy. It had been a few days since their last kiss.

When Harry turned his head to the side, breathing in, Lucius just dipped his head lower, aiming for the green eyed wizard's neck, nuzzling and kissing and making the teen moan. He pulled Lucius' head back up and kissed the older wizard again, tongues meeting in an open mouthed kiss. Lucius pulled him closer, clutching at the teen's clothes and tugging the robes off, pressing their bodies closer and backing Harry against the locked door. They both broke apart to breathe soon.

"Hey, nice to see you," Harry said smiling as he tried to breathe.

"Likewise," Lucius was smiling too and resting his forehead against Harry's.
"Not that I don't like seeing you, but what are you doing in Hogwarts?" the teen asked.

"Just came to see the old coot," the blond wizard replied.

Harry instantly went beet red. "Oh, um..."

"Forget about him," Lucius muttered and went for the teen's lips again.

The young Gryffindor eagerly followed his lead.

"You look ridiculously pleased with yourself," Severus commented when Lucius entered his rooms. The dark haired man gave the blond wizard he considered his friend a suspicious look. "What happened with Albus?"

At Lucius look the Potions Master scoffed.

"That bad?" Severus asked.

"I did not really give him much time to talk," Lucius replied.

Severus smirked. "That's one way to make sure your opinions are heard."

Lucius sighed and took a seat. "Scotch?"

"Can't you help yourself? I have a pile to mark," Snape told him. "And you can tell me all about your meeting with the Headmaster though," he paused briefly. "You met with Potter, didn't you?" It was a statement, not a question.

Lucius just smiled. "Don't ask and I won't tell," he replied making the other wizard scowl"

"Never mind then, I am partial to keeping whatever sanity I have left."

Malfoy did not take offence from those words. He just smiled and asked after Snape's day. He was not willing to share information no matter how much he teasingly threatened Severus; his memories with Harry, their moments together were precious and for him and Harry alone. Not that he would tell this to Severus, the Potions Master was teasing him enough with what he knew, no need to hand him more ammunition, the blond wizard thought.

End of chapter.