Chapter 31
Severus was walking as fast as he could – he had to get out of here as soon as possible. It wasn’t safe.
‘Severus! You know I won’t leave it alone! Just stop and get it over with!’ called Lucius, hurrying after him.
Severus scowled, then abruptly ducked through a door and warded it shut. He stood facing it with his arms crossed, glaring at the door. He would give Lucius exactly 30 seconds to get through. If he couldn’t get in in time, then Severus would leave and not answer his questions. That way, he could say he’d given Lucius a chance, and Lucius had missed it – bad luck.
Lucius got the door open in 23 seconds.
Bugger.
He gave Severus a shit-eating grin, strutting into the room and over to a chair. Severus glanced around. It looked to be a small sitting room. Hopefully nobody else tried to come in.
‘So…’ prompted Lucius, but Severus stared blankly. Lucius rolled his eyes. ‘Really, Severus, don’t be so shy. Is he a good kisser? Did you see his-‘
‘Stop! Merlin’s balls, you are incorrigible. No, nothing happened.’
Lucius’ teasing grin faded. ‘Nothing?’ he asked curiously, and Severus scowled harder.
Lucius blinked. ‘Wow. Well. That’s unexpected.’ He said, giving Severus a cryptic look.
With a heavy sigh, Severus took the bait. ‘What?’ he asked flatly.
Lucius paused. ‘Did you hex him?’ he asked, understanding dawning.
‘No!’ snapped Severus. ‘He said he wasn’t well enough for… anything.’
Lucius’ eyes went wide. ‘Oh. Oh shit, Sev. I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d known, I swear! I just meant it as a bit of a joke!’
Severus looked confused.
Lucius stood and paced a bit. ‘I thought I’d mention your crush, and he’d flirt and whatever, and you’d have an angry pash, and ease up on that ridiculous tension that’s always been between you two since our Hogwarts days! I didn’t realise…’
‘Realise what?’ Severus asked, no idea what Lucius was on about.
‘He likes you back. Obviously.’ Lucius said bluntly. ‘If he was just in it for fun, he’d have tried something. But he said he’s not well enough? He’s waiting. Waiting till he’s well enough for something serious.’
Severus scoffed. ‘You’re reading far too much into nothing, Lucius. You need a hobby outside your pitiful matchmaking attempts.’
Lucius ignored the barb. ‘Mark my words, Severus. Sirius Black is going to make a move on you one day.’
Severus’ face flushed red. ‘Shut up Lucius. It’s not funny.’ And with that, he stormed from the room, leaving Lucius watching after him, a contemplative look on his face.