p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry leapt up into a defensive position, his wand pointing directly at the place where Lucius stood with his hands up innocently./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""What did you say to me my second year while we were in the headmaster's office?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"The Malfoy gaped at him in confusion, gulping loudly when Harry raised the wand higher—pointed directly at his heart—and repeated the question, his power radiating through the room./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I said… I said that we should hope that you would always be there to save the day." Harry dropped his wand slowly, raising an eyebrow at the blonde man./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I was not expected visitors, Lucius," he explained. "Surely you understand the need for caution? The war may have ended, but there is still evil in this world."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius moved forward, sliding an official letter into the younger man's hand./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""If your paranoia is due to the attack at the apothecary last week, I assure you, the perpetrators are in the custody of the ministry. They were death eater wannabe's. Easily taken care of."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry growled, causing Lucius to step back slightly before straightening up as if he wasn't effected./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Those death eater wannabe's nearly cost me my mate!" Harry snapped, looking away sharply to take a deep breath. "You may consider it paranoia, but I will remain vigilant until I am certain of Severus' continued safety."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Harry?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry turned, revealing the man in question curled up on the couch. Lucius hadn't even seen him asleep there, hidden as he had been in the blankets and by the bulk of his mate./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Did I wake you, cicaro?" Harry asked gently, pulling the blanket up around Severus' neck. "I am sorry. I was just speaking to Lucius. You can go back to sleep if you want."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus shook his head in the negative, but relaxed back against the cushions./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lucius coughed lightly, averting his eyes from the intimacy./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I came to bring you news of the voting. Your bill has gone through for Hogwarts, and I've been accepted as the new Defense professor."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry smiled, the shape of it changing his face from stern to pleasant immediately. "That's brilliant. Have you told Draco the news?" Lucius tilted his head./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I will notify him as soon as I take my leave."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Lord Potter nodded in acquiesce of the cloaked request, watching as Lucius disappeared into the floo before turning back to his sleepy mate./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""How are you feeling, pet?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus sat up, pouting as Harry lifted him onto his lap but not arguing the action./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I don't know why you protest my cuddling, darling," Harry laughed, rubbing the side of his cheek with his nose. "I know you enjoy being in my arms just as much as I enjoy holding you here."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus scowled at him, the expression looking out of place on his clearly content face./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I am a grown man, and I— "/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You are also my submissive, little one," Harry interrupted him, looking at him firmly. "I'd hoped you wouldn't need to be reminded of that."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus blushed, moving from his perch on Harry's lap to turn and straddle him comfortably and put his head on his shoulder./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I know that. I like being your submissive, Alpha. I do." Harry sighed, happy with the assurance./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""When no one is around," Harry bargained, "I reserve the right to hold you as my submissive."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus sneered. "I am not ashamed of my—my submission." Harry jerked up to look at him, smiling gently./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""That pleases me greatly, sweetheart. You should never be ashamed of what you are, what we are together."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"They sat like that for a time, Severus relaxing further against his dominant, Harry's large hand making gentle figure eights along his backbone. At some point, Severus made a decision. He lifted his chin, eyeing Harry's lips which quirked upward when he realized what Severus must be considering. Harry nodded, leaning forward until their lips were centimeters apart./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"His eyes met with those of the older man, and he refused to go any further until Severus' permission was given. Fortunately, it was barely a few seconds before Severus was nodding shyly./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"His submissive gasped into the kiss then let out a whimper, melting against him and willingly giving himself up to Harry. The younger male let out a soft growl at the sound, flipping them so that Severus was pressed into the couch. He gently nibbled on the ex spy's bottom lip in a request for entrance, and the man enthusiastically obliged./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry's tongue explored every cavern of Severus' mouth. The man moaned, spreading his legs further so that the creature could slide between them. He gentled his assault, allowing the other to play with his tongue./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry grinned inwardly at Severus' open curiosity, happy that Severus was allowing himself to be exposed and vulnerable. Harry took the probing tongue between his lips and sucked on it, eliciting a surprised gasp that transformed into a moan. His hands traveled softly down the lithe body; he cupped Severus' bum in his hand and gently massaged it, memorizing every delectable sound that came from his mate's mouth./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He let out a soothing rumble before nipping and Severus' bottom lip. The startled yelp changed into a mewl when Harry started sucking on it. He pulled away to admire Severus' mussed appearance only to jump into a protective posture when he felt the presence of another wizard in the room./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I need to speak with Harry privately, Severus," Lucius said smoothly, his eyes not leaving the younger man./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Severus seemed upset by the interruption and the not quite suggestion. He was nearly 40 years old! Why should he have to—/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Baby," Harry entreated, pulling Severus up from the couch and giving him a light push toward the stairs. "Why don't you go wash up for dinner? I'll try to make this quick, okay?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"He found himself nodding, stumbling off without so much as a word to his best friend./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Once the man was gone, Lucius' glare increased tenfold./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""As my brother by magic, you need my permission to completely bond to Severus. I know that you have done study to prepare to be his mate, but you are still a hormonal teenager and part incubi at that." Harry growled in offense, stepping forward with fire in his eyes./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""You accuse me of putting myself before my mate? I know how to take care of him!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""Severus has never been with anyone emotionally or physically, as you well know," Lucius hissed back, his eyes conveying his concern for his blood brother. "I expect him to be treated with absolute respect."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry swallowed back the scathing retort on the tip of his tongue, noting that the man really was just trying to do the best by his little mate./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I am earning his trust," Harry told him, "and I shan't abuse it. I swear to you." Lucius nodded sharply./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I also came to warn you that I believe my son will be coming to you for advice concerning gaining the attention of a Gryffindor. I ask that you try to treat him seriously, despite what a fool he is sure to make of himself when he approaches you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry rose an eyebrow./p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""And this couldn't be said in a letter, why?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;""I was told this floo would remain open," Lucius silkily replied, narrowing his eyes. "I mean it. Don't you push him before he is ready."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"Harry nodded gravely. "We will move at the pace he is ready to set. I don't want to hurt him."/p
p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"TBC/span/p